PREVIEW: Warrington Rylands (a)
It's FA Cup week!
CHORLEY are in Emirates FA Cup action this weekend as they visit Warrington Rylands in the second qualifying round of the competition.
The Magpies were knocked out in the third qualifying round last season but will be eyeing up a cup run this season, starting this weekend.
Andy Preece’s side were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat away at King’s Lynn Town last weekend so will want to return to form on Saturday.
Last Time Out
After a four-hour journey to Norfolk last weekend the Magpies had to return empty-handed as goals from Jesse Nwabueze and Reece Hall-Johnson gave the Linnets all three points, moving them ahead of the visitors in the league table.
Off the back of the 5-2 home win over Darlington four days before, Preece named an unchanged team at the Docherty Walks Stadium.
A battling first-half was struck into life in the 40th minute as Nwabueze fired an excellent free-kick off the underside of the crossbar and into Li-Bau Stowell’s goal to give the home side the lead.
The Magpies tried to fight back after the break and came closest when Callum Rowe smashed an almost spectacular long-range effort from 30 yards out, but it bounced back off the bar before being cleared away.
Shortly after, it became 2-0 for the Linnets when Hall-Johnson finished off a superb solo goal just past the hour mark.
Chorley struggled to really threaten the hosts in the time left, only seeing a Harvey Smith header cleared off the line and Jack Hazlehurst’s volley saved comfortably by Ronnie Hollingshead in the Linnets’ goal.
Overall, it was a poor day on the road for Preece’s team which leaves them in 16th position in the Enterprise National League North with 11 points from nine games.
Opposition Focus
Away from league action, the Magpies’ attention will be on Warrington Rylands ahead of this Saturday’s FA Cup encounter.
The Cheshire side, managed by Neil Reynolds, beat fellow Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Hyde United 3-1 in the first qualifying round of the competition a fortnight ago, and sit 10th in their league currently.
Goals from Harrison Wood, Charlie Munro and Adam Caddick proved enough to send the Blues into the second qualifying round, an improvement on last season when they were knocked out by Guiseley at the first hurdle.
Manager Reynolds joined the club in September 2024 and in his first full season in charge last year led them to a fourth-place finish and the play-off final.
After beating FC United of Manchester in the semi-final, they were eventually defeated by Hednesford Town on penalties after drawing 1-1 after extra time.
Despite the result, Reynolds penned a new three-year deal in May to continue their push for promotion to Step Two.
Nine games into this campaign they have picked up 13 points, which puts them three points outside the play-off spots.
After beating AFC Fylde in pre-season, they have won four games in the league, including a 2-1 win away at recently relegated Alfreton Town but also fell to a 5-0 defeat at home to third-placed Redcar Athletic.
Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw at home to bottom of the league Stockton Town.
Head-to-Head
The Magpies’ last encounter with Rylands came less than two years ago in December 2024 when a 3-2 victory sent Andy Preece’s side into the fourth round of the FA Trophy.
Goals from Tom Carr, Adam Henley and Jack Sampson gave Chorley the win that day and the latter two could feature again on Saturday.
Match Details
Warrington Rylands vs Chorley
Emirates FA Cup – Second Qualifying Round
Saturday, September 19
3pm kick-off
The Quickline Logistics Arena, Warrington, WA2 7RZ
