Words: Ewan Murray, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY were rampant in their 1-4 victory away at Hereford on Saturday afternoon.
Things got off to a great start for Andy Preece’s side, as in the sixth minute a lovely give and go between George Horbury and Craig Hewitt resulted in the latter finishing well into the top corner and the visitors had an early lead.
Just five minutes later, it became even better for the Magpies, an Adam Blakeman pass found Tom Carr whose effort was saved by Theo Richardson, the ball eventually fell back to Blakeman who tucked his effort away and Chorley had doubled their lead.
It was almost three in the 17th minute when a long ball by Jack Moore found Warren Clarke in behind, he tried to dink the ball over the keeper, but his effort was just too high, and it bounced off the top of the net.
Chorley did not relent though and following a foul on Carr in the box, Jack Sampson had an opportunity to make it 0-3 from the spot, he stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, placing his penalty into the bottom left corner.
Hereford had their first opportunity of the game in the 35th minute as a ball by Omari Sterling-James found Remaye Campbell in the box, his effort was well saved by Matt Urwin in goal.
A few minutes later Preece’s men thought they had made it four, when a great free kick by Moore met Carr who headed well into the back of the net, however he was judged to have been offside by the linesman.
Going into the second-half, the hosts started off on the front foot, following some good play by Sterling-James, he found Andy Williams with a pass, the striker’s effort was cleared off the line by Sam Bird.
However, not long after Hereford had their breakthrough as the ball eventually fell to substitute Eno Nto following a corner and his effort found the roof of the net.
Ten minutes later Chorley had killed off the game, a free kick by Moore was headed towards goal by Mark Ellis and as it was trickling over the line, Sampson got the final touch to put the contest to bed.
Despite this the Magpies still did not let up, substitute Joe Nolan ran forwards with the ball from deep in Hereford’s half and opted to shoot, his effort saved low by Richardson in goal.
As the game was coming to an end the hosts had an opportunity with a curled effort by Sterling-James on the edge of the box, tipped over by Urwin.
Andy Preece’s side will now turn their attention to the upcoming game against King’s Lynn Town on Bank Holiday Monday at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium.
