CHORLEY fell to a disappointing defeat away at Alfreton Town, the hosts securing a 2-0 win to leave the Magpies still in a strong position domestically in fourth place in the Vanarama National League North.
Both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game in the early exchanges, it took 17 minutes for either team to even get a shot off, Jack Moore firing wide with a well-struck effort from range before Adam Lund had the hosts' first go at goal just before the half-hour mark.
The Magpies began to feel frustrated as the first-half ticked on, Ryan Taylor accumulating a number of fouls for the hosts against Chorley defenders to the annoyance of manager, Andy Preece.
Billy Heath's side would go on to hit the front first after 35 minutes, GEORGE CANTRILL firing the ball in past Matt Urwin after an initial set-piece fell to him, the ball did deflect but looked to be on it's way in to the far-corner regardless.
Alfreton looked to build on their opening goal towards the break, Lewis Salmon getting the better of Scott Wilson before flashing an effort across goal, just wide - but the hosts had to settle for just the one goal advantage going into half-time.
The pattern of the game continued in much of the same way the opening 45 minutes played out, the hosts restricting Chorley to very little with persistent fouling a part of their gameplan to stem the flow of any of the Magpies' attacking play.
Matt Urwin was called into action just before the hour-mark and made a smart save to deny Alfreton an all but certain goal, though Billy Heath's side only had to wait another minute before doubling their advantage - LIAM WALDOCK volleying the ball home sweetly past Urwin having been left in acres of space after an initial set-piece was half-cleared.
Alfreton very nearly went on to add a third-goal with 20-minutes to go, Urwin again doing exceptionally well to get down low and deny Billy Fewster.
Chorley's best chance of the game to get a goal fell to Carlton Ubaezuonu but even that was shepherded away well by the Alfreton defence, Kennedy Digie sweeping up smartly to avert the danger after great initial play by Justin Johnson and Marco Rus.
Alfreton Town: Willis, Lund, Digie, Wiley, Waldock, Salmon, Perritt, Cantrill, Newall, Fewster (Clackstone, 90'), Taylor.
Chorley: Urwin, Moore, Smith, Ellis, Wilson, (Blakeman, 74’), Nolan, Rus, Hazlehurst, Whitehouse (Sampson, 60'), Ubaezuonu, Johnson (Moyo, 80')
Goalscorers: ⚽ Cantrill (35'), Waldock (58').
Cautions: 🟨 Perritt (51'), Wilson (56'), Ellis (90').
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle.
Assistants: Taylor Metcalf & Joe Cunningham.
Attendance: 612.
Next Up: We’re away again next Saturday as we make the super-long journey down south to take on HYTHE TOWN in the fourth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
