CHORLEY registered their first win of the 2023/24 season in some style with a 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium.
The Magpies very nearly got off to the perfect start within two minutes, Justin Johnson cutting in and then firing a shot against the crossbar.
King’s Lynn struggled to stop Andy Preece’s side from pushing hard for the opening goal and goalkeeper Paul Jones was kept very busy throughout the first-half - saving well from Jack Hazelhurst twice.
Chorley would make the breakthrough right on half-time though, Justin Johnson slamming home from the penalty spot to claim his third goal of the campaign.
Tom Clifford was sent off for the visitors just after the hour mark after a horrible challenge on Johnson, making matters worse for Mark Hughes’s side.
Jack Hazelhurst battles for possession (David Airey)
Billy Whitehouse struck the post, Jack Sampson had the ball in the back of the net but was flagged for offside and Mike Calveley couldn’t get a shot on target from close range as the Magpies continued to push hard for a winner.
Johnson then doubled his tally for the afternoon with an excellent finish past Jones before Jack Hazelhurst capped off a fantastic team performance with his first goal of the season, another excellent finish.
Chorley: Urwin, Moore, Smith, Ellis, Blakeman, Nolan, Calveley, Hazelhurst (Britton 90’), Johnson, Whitehouse (Ubaezuonu 90’), Sampson. Unused: Henley, Shenton, Hockenhull.
King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Oke (Bartley, 84’), Coulson, McFadden, Ronan, Smith, Hughes, Clifford, Barrett (Spence, 65’), Ponticelli, Cybulski (Stephens, 68). Unused: Sandford, Crowther.
Goalscorers: ⚽ Johnson (45’ & 79’), Coulson (51’), Hazelhurst (90’)
Cautions: 🟨 Coulson (31’), Hazelhurst (32’), Blakeman (36’), Stephens (83’)
Dismissal: 🟥 Clifford (62’)
Referee: Thomas Wilson
Assistants: Bilal Moosa & Kavan Hurn
Attendance: 885
Next Up: We make the short trip over to Southport this Bank Holiday Monday, for a 3pm kick-off.
