Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY rescued a point through Adam Henley’s last-minute equaliser to earn themselves a 3-3 draw at home to Oxford City.
The Magpies trailed by two goals at half-time but produced an excellent comeback with goals from Harry Ibbitson, Craig Hewitt and Henley putting a dampener on the visitors’ start.
First-half finishes from Tom Scott and Darnell Johnson gave the Hoops, who came into today in 22nd place, a deserved lead but a change of formation at the break switched the momentum in the hosts’ favour.
The draw lifts Andy Preece’s side up a place to fifth in the table, having played a game more than Spennymoor Town, who were in FA Cup action today.
A slow start to the game was broken by Scott’s opener in the 16th minute as the forward fired past a wrong-footed Matt Urwin from the edge of the box.
Urwin, playing his 350th match for the Magpies, superbly stopped Josh Parker’s one-on-one opportunity, but defender Johnson made it 2-0 shortly before the break, heading home from Josh Ashby’s freekick.
Preece moved to a 4-3-3 formation after half-time and his side began to dominate the game.
Ibbitson pulled a goal back after 57 minutes, poking home from close range following Mark Ellis’ header back across goal on the defender’s 101st appearance for the club.
Then, in a quick six minutes, both sides found the back of the net to make it 3-2 to the Hoops.
Jacob Roddy crossed for Scott to tap home for his second of the day before Parker’s foul on Ellis gave Hewitt the chance to step up from the penalty spot.
The winger converted in style, firing into Sam Lewis’ top left corner for his third goal from the penalty spot in his last four games.
Central midfielder Taelor O’Kane, making his debut for the Magpies after signing on loan from AFC Fylde, impressed after coming on at the break, but time seemed to be running out for him and his teammates.
However, with referee Jack Churchill’s watch about to tick over into added time, up stepped Henley to rifle home from inside the area and secure a point for his side.
Seven minutes of added time produced no further goals and Chorley walked away with a well-earned draw after their second-half display.
