PREVIEW: Darlington (h)

CHORLEY are back in action on Tuesday night at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium and will be hoping to move on from their 4-0 defeat at Oxford City on Saturday.

The Magpies conceded twice in each half as the Hoops earned a deserved win which ended the visitors’ four-match unbeaten run.

Andy Preece’s side now sit 17th in the Enterprise National League North with eight points from seven games.

Last Time Out

Last weekend’s fixture was a day to forget for Chorley, who made the journey south in good spirits after a late comeback against Brackley Town earned them a point in their previous game.

A lively opening period saw both sides have opportunities with skipper Mike Calveley twice failing to hit the target for the Magpies.

The away side were given a reprieve when an Oxford shot trickled its way across the goal line but one of their attackers was deemed to be in an offside position, keeping the score level.

However, the Hoops were not kept out for long and took the lead in the 32nd minute, Tyrone Marsh pouncing from a yard out to tap home.

The visitors tried to fight back and came close when Steven Bala’s effort hit the post but they found themselves two goals down at half-time after Scott Pollock’s sumptuous finish into the top corner.

Despite the break giving them chance to reset, it took only four minutes of the second half for the hosts to get their third of the afternoon, youngster Briar Bateman’s shot being deflected past Li-Bau Stowell.

And Marsh proceeded to double his tally in the 67th minute, sliding in on the line to finish and complete his side’s convincing win that moved them to the top of the table.

For Chorley, it was a game they will want to move on from and cast aside as a freak outing.

Opposition Focus

Back at Victory Park, Tuesday’s opponents Darlington will be hoping to move themselves up the table after an opening seven games which have brought just two wins, leaving them one point above the drop.

Manager Steve Watson led them to a ninth-placed finish last season, missing out on the play-offs by four points, in what was his second full season and charge and saw him sign a new two-year deal in March.

A 91st-minute 3-2 win over Bedford Town and a 1-0 victory at Radcliffe have been their only moments to cheer about this season, with five defeats including Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to King’s Lynn Town.

Summer signing Paddy McLaughlin scored twice in that Bedford victory and leads the club’s scoring charts with three goals from midfield.

They have also signed striker Mark Beck, who scored the winner at Radcliffe, from Scunthorpe United, midfielder Brad Walker from Hartlepool United and goalkeeper Bobby Jones from Chester.

Forward Jack Maskell earned a move to League Two side Barnet after netting 14 goals last season for the Quakers and fellow striker Cedric Main, who scored 20 goals, has made the step up to AFC Fylde.

They also saw midfield trio Tom Allan, Matty Cornish and Elliot Forbes all join newly promoted side Hebburn Town.

Head-to-Head

Darlington’s last visit to Victory Park saw them come away with a 2-1 win in January.

Goals from Main and Will McGowan, either side of Harry Ibbitson’s for Chorley, were enough for the three points.

However, it was the Magpies who prevailed earlier in the season as goals from Tom Carr, Jack Sampson and Scott Wilson saw them come back from 2-1 down to win, despite playing with ten men for almost an hour.

Match Details

Chorley vs Darlington

Enterprise National League North

Tuesday, September 8

7.45pm kick-off

Grant Store Victory Park Stadium, Chorley, PR7 3DU