CHORLEY fell to a disappointing defeat on Saturday afternoon at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium - losing 2-1 to Hereford, with Jack Sampson's consolation goal on 79 minutes not enough on the day for the Magpies.
Hereford started the better of the two sides and went to work early on in trying to attack inside the Chorley half, Aaron Skinner and Yusifu Ceesay both with sighters that went high and wide over on the Frank Powell Stand side.
The Magpies' first half-chance of the game fell to Mark Ellis who got on the end of Jack Moore's brilliantly lofted free-kick, however the former couldn't direct his header at goal. Ellis then quickly turned into the saviour at the other end, denying Ethan Freemantle an all but certain one-versus-one opportunity with Matt Urwin.
Paul Caddis's side continued to look dangerous on the break in the opening 45 minutes but Chorley ended up with the two best opportunities of the half and The Bulls had their goalkeeper, Curtis Pond to thank for first, getting a hand to Carlton Ubaezuonu's header from close range before getting down low to stop Justin Johnson's low drive with his left foot.
Carlton Ubaezuonu goes for goal against Hereford (James Harrison)
Chorley came out after the restart and continued much in the fashion they left off before the break but it was to be The Bulls who would hit the front first, Jack Tolley in the right place at the right time to tap home at the back post after Freemantle scuffed the ball across goal into the box into his path.
Andy Preece then responded with an attacking change in the form of David Moyo but unfortunately, his side were soon two goals behind - Alex Babos spinning his marker excellently following a long ball over the top from goalkeeper Pond and the former took his shot off early and it sailed into the far corner.
The Magpies did reduce the deficit with just over ten minutes to go through Jack Sampson, who got up highest to meet Justin Johnson's cross and head powerfully past Pond to set up an exciting climax to the afternoon at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium.
Chorley, to their credit did huff and puff in search of a late equaliser but The Bulls were more than up to the test and resolutely held on to the final whistle to claim all three points on the day.
Chorley: Urwin, Moore (Blakeman, 90+1'), Smith, Ellis, Henley, Calveley, Nolan (Moyo, 70'), Whitehouse (Shenton, 83'), Johnson, Ubaezuonu, Sampson. Unused: Brindle, Doumbouya.
Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Livingstone, Teixeira (Cranston, 90'), Ceesay, Babos, Tolley (Arthur, 65'), Mendes, Southern, Freemantle (Cowley, 83'), Cameron. Unused: Stanley, Rooney.
Goalscorers: ⚽ Tolley (56'), Babos (75'), Sampson (79').
Cautions: 🟨 Moore (75'), Cowley (90+5').
Referee: Lewis Dawson.
Assistants: Matthew Malton & Arran Williams.
Attendance: 1,366.
50/50 draw results: 3rd: £46 - 08921 // 2nd: £68 - 08704 // 1st: £114 - 08867.
Next Up: We're back on the road next Saturday as we make the long journey over to take on Banbury United in the Vanarama National League North.
