Pete Tscherewik (words) & Stefan Willoughby (pics) at HQ
THE Magpies won an Isuzu FA Trophy tie for the first time since 2017, reaching the third round with a 1-0 win over Leek Town.
Chorley nearly got off to a perfect start; Connor Hall firing an audacious volley against the bar from Callum Schorah’s looped pass from the left.
Hall came mightily close again minutes later, this time his effort from inside the box cleared off the line following Will Tomlinson’s pinpoint corner.
Both sides looked like going in level at the break but for a blistering 50-yard run from Justin Johnson to set up Jack Sampson for the opener – the latter tapping home a rebound after Johnson’s initial effort was saved.
The Magpies continued to dominate into the second half and it took Leek 65 minutes to register their first shot of the game; Daniel Trickett-Smith’s free kick well held by Matt Urwin.
To their credit, the visitors did look for a way back into the game late, with Urwin alert to repel a Lucas Baker shot. But they were no match for Andy Preece’s side on the day and Sampson’s goal was enough to see the Magpies through to Monday’s third round draw.
Chorley Urwin; Smith, Wilson, Leather (c) (Blakeman, 54′), Nolan, Sampson, Tomlinson (Calveley, 78′), Challoner, Johnson, Schorah (Fenlon, 60′), Hall. Subs not used: Ustabaşı, Shenton, Okome, Drench.
Leek Roberts; Bavanganga, Keenan, Grocott (c), Harrison, Ryder, Hugill, Reeves, Carr, Trickett-Smith, Davidson (Baker, 82′). Subs not used: Stevenson, Wara.
Man of the Match Harvey Smith
We’re really happy to have got through. The FA Trophy is a competition we want to have a run in, and this result is hopefully just the start – Chris Anderson
HT 1-0
Goals (assists) Sampson 45’+1 (Johnson) | None
Cautions Challoner 85′ | None
Dismissals None | None
Officials Dale Baines | Andrew Daniels & William Vaughan
Crowd 748
Next Up
We make the short journey to Atherton Collieries for a LFA Challenge Trophy second round tie on Tuesday (7:45pm). Admission is on the night via cash turnstiles – £7 Adults | £4 Concessions | FREE Under-11s
