PREVIEW: Marine (a)
The Magpies are back in action later today...
CHORLEY return to action looking for their first points of the season after Saturday’s unlucky defeat at South Shields.
The Magpies impressed in the North East against last year’s runners-up but came up short after two late goals for the Mariners.
Tuesday’s opponents Marine, are also yet to pick up a point in the 2026/27 campaign after back-to-back 1-0 defeats.
Last Time Out
Last weekend’s result was a much-improved display from Andy Preece’s side from their opening-day loss at home to Chester.
Preece made two changes with Sam Bird and Sam Fielding coming in for Adam Blakeman and Anjola Popoola and seemed to reap early rewards for doing so.
Jack Hazlehurst’s cross into the box towards Elliot Taylor resulted in the forward being bundled over, giving the former the chance to step up from the spot and calmly convert to give the Magpies the lead inside two minutes.
Shortly after, last season’s Enterprise National League North top-scorer Paul Blackett raced through one-on-one with Li-Bau Stowell but the young Preston North End loanee did well to force him away from goal.
Back up the other end of the pitch, a quick freekick gave Taylor a chance to double the visitors’ lead but his effort was dragged wide.
The former Burscough man then nearly turned provider, playing a cross into the box towards the front post which Warren Clarke could not quite get to.
And then once again Taylor was involved as he met a looping header at the back post but put it wide under pressure from the goalkeeper.
Into the second half, Stowell was forced to save low down to his left to keep out Sean McGurk’s cross.
Amidst pressure from the home side, Chorley continued to defend as a team and hold their lead, whilst seeing another cross flash across goal without a touch from the hosts’ attack.
However, the Magpies’ defence was finally broken in the 76th minute when Adam Campbell drilled home into the bottom corner after Harvey Smith’s clearance.
The hosts then won it with five minutes to go as Blackett finally turned the ball home after a dramatic scramble in the box.
Despite a positive performance, Chorley fell to defeat and are pointless after two games of the season.
Opposition Focus
Tuesday night’s hosts Marine have started the season with one-goal defeats at home to Macclesfield and away to Hereford.
Boss Bobby Grant guided them to a 12th-place finish in last season’s National League North, improving from 15th the season before.
Midfielder Finlay Sinclair-Smith ended as the team’s top-scorer with 12 goals in his second year with the club.
In the transfer window, the Mariners have made striker Charlie Jolley’s loan from AFC Fylde a permanent move and also added to the attack further with former Everton and Salford City man Conor McAleny after his departure from Harrogate Town.
Goalkeeper Jack Barrett has joined on loan from Blackburn Rovers whilst attacking midfielder Sonny Hilton has made the move from nearby Southport.
In the outgoings column, midfield duo Jack Hazlehurst and Sam Fielding both moved to the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium from the Mariners.
They also saw striker Offrande Zanzala cross the border to Welsh side Caernarfon Town and winger Ashley Hunter join Ilkeston Town.
Both of their defeats this season have come from goals conceded between the 70th and 80th minute.
Head-to-Head
Both encounters between the sides last season ended in a 2-1 win for the home side.
The Magpies were victorious on 30th December thanks to goals from Mike Calveley and Harry Ibbitson, which came either side of Adam Thomas’ equaliser.
In the return fixture in April, Sinclair-Smith and Charlie Jolley’s goals secured all three points for Grant’s side despite Owen German’s consolation goal.
Match Details
Marine vs Chorley
Enterprise National League North
Tuesday, August 18
7.45pm kick-off
Marine Travel Arena, Crosby, L23 3AS
