Alex Birch (words) & Stefan Willoughby (pics) at HQ
THE Magpies eased to a third straight home win with a routine 2-0 success against Spennymoor Town.
Less than four minutes elapsed before the home side took the lead. Adam Blakeman and Jack Sampson combined to free Ollie Shenton running across the box, and the midfielder managed to sweep home beyond Gio Bellagambi from 12 yards.
Billy Whitehouse hit the sidenetting of Bellagambi’s goal soon after, following a storming run by Jon Ustabaşı, who in turn swiped an effort just wide from distance.
The flying winger then sped past Fin Cousin-Dawson and worked Bellagambi low as the one-way traffic continued right through to half time.
The visitors upped the pressure at the start of the second half, finally registering a shot on goal after 58 minutes, but it mattered little as Chorley’s second goal appeared on 63 minutes.
Connor Hall put Shenton in down the left and his beautifully dinked cross found an unmarked Ustabaşı who volley past Bellagambi for his ninth of the season.
A final 20 minute cruise to three points was made harder when Billy Whitehouse picked up two yellows in 11 minutes, giving Moors some momentum heading into the final exchanges.
Sub Joe Cummings headed wide right after the dismissal, and although it looked as though the visitors had enough in the tank to mount some sort of challenge, the game thankfully died away leaving the Magpies with three valuable points.
Chorley Urwin; Smith, Wilson, Leather (c), Whitehouse, Calveley, Sampson (Owens, 82′), Ustabaşı, Shenton, Blakeman, Hall (Nolan, 77′). Subs not used: Tomlinson, Johnson, Schorah.
Spennymoor Bellagambi; Curtis (c), Taylor, Ramshaw, Kendall, Cousin-Dawson, Forbes (Preston, 77′), Ledger, Boyle, Blackett (Greenfield, 26′), Cornet (Cummings, 52′). Subs not used: Flatters, Mouat.
Man of the Match Jon Ustabaşı
We responded excellently to Saturday’s defeat and the lads gave everything from start to finish. It’s a really good and important three points – Andy Preece
HT 1-0
Goals (assists) Shenton 4′ (Sampson),Ustabaşı 63′ (Shenton) | None
Cautions Smith 39′, Whitehouse 61′, 72′ | Boyle 43′
Dismissals Whitehouse 72′ | None
Officials Michael Crusham | Jonny Wyatt & Joe Cunningham
Crowd 670
HT Draw 191 (£29) | 123 (£17) | 149 (£11)
Next Up
Kettering Town are the visitors to Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium on Saturday (3pm). Tickets available online here or on the day – £15 Adults | £12 65+/Concessions | £7 17-20s | £5 12-16s | FREE accompanied u12s
