Words: Ewan Murray, Image: John Shirras
CHORLEY were clinical in their 3-1 victory at home to AFC Telford United on Saturday afternoon.
It was the visitors who started the game on the front foot and in the seventh minute they grabbed the opener, a ball across goal by Thakgalo Leshabela was bundled onto the post and fell fortuitously to Adan George who could not miss and put the Bucks 0-1 up.
Nine minutes later Harvey Smith had the ball in the back of the net for the Magpies but was judged to have been offside and Telford remained ahead.
A few minutes later though, Chorley found themselves level, a long ball by Adam Blakeman was seemingly en route to Stan Amos in goal for the Bucks, however Tom Carr charged him down and won a 50/50 against the keeper, the striker then had the composure to calmly finish his effort into the back of the net.
Telford almost struck back quickly, Rhys Hilton cut inside onto his left foot inside the box and fired towards goal, Matt Urwin got down well to push it behind for a corner.
Straight after, Hilton again picked up the ball and showed great skill to weave through the Chorley defence, another shot by the winger this time was saved excellently by Urwin.
In the 42nd minute a one two between Warren Clarke and Craig Hewitt, was followed with the latter crossing the ball to Adam Henley whose bouncing effort hit the top of the crossbar and went over.
Then, just before half-time, there was a counterattack for Telford, with Dylan Hadley bearing down on goal, but Urwin yet again was brilliant, smothering the ball before the left winger could get his shot away.
Into the second half, Andy Preece’s side looked to start strongly. A few minutes in, there was a deep free-kick by Blakeman which met a wide-open Mark Ellis in the box, however, his header looped just wide.
Then in the 54th minute, Chorley took the lead. Hewitt had the ball on the left and gave it to Mike Calveley, who looked as though he was opening up to shoot; instead he played a great through ball to Henley, who tucked his effort into the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later a great run from Hewitt moving inside, the ball found its way to Clarke and his effort was saved well by Amos.
In the 72nd minute, though the Magpies had their third, a flick on in the centre circle by substitute Harry Ibbitson went to Tom Carr, he ran forwards with the ball before teeing up Hewitt for a shot, which was parried by Amos straight to Calveley who headed home for his third of the season.
Telford had a couple of opportunities late on to claw one back, most notably an Oliver Cawthorne header from a Jordan Cranston corner which was saved by Urwin and a shot from the edge of the box by substitute James Meddows which was also saved by the Chorley captain.
The Magpies held firm, though, and will now switch their attention to their first game in this season’s FA Cup, an away tie at Congleton Town next Saturday in the second qualifying round.
