CHORLEY advance through to the third round of the FA Trophy after a second-half strike from Josh Popoola was enough to secure a 1-0 win against Scarborough Athletic at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies made six changes from the side that beat Darlington 8-0 on Tuesday night, including the returning Jack Hazlehurst who was a bright spark for Andy Preece's side in the early stages.
Both sides struggled to get a grip on the game in the first-half, weather and playing conditions taking it's tole on the tempo and rhythm in the game. Scarborough rounded out the opening 45 minutes with arguably the edge on Chorley, Michael Coulson forcing Matt Urwin into a smart save down low.
Scott Wilson had to react quickly to deny Dom Tear at the back post, shortly after the restart - the latter firing his shot off powerfully but fortunately it wouldn't find a route towards the goal.
The Magpies then would go on to hit the front first, Jack Hazlehurst with a short corner that looked straight off the training ground - into the path of JOSH POPOOLA who did exceptionally well to take his shot first time and place it into the corner past Ryan Whitley.
Josh Popoola's shot is too strong for Scarborough Athletic keeper, Ryan Whitley (David Airey)
That goal would prove to be a real confidence boost for Chorley, Hazlehurst very nearly grabbing a goal of his own minutes later after David Moyo squared the ball across the box into his path but Whitley denied our Magpie Messi with an excellent save.
To their credit, Andy Preece's side defended resolutely against anything that was thrown at them - albeit, Urwin was kept relatively quiet for the remainder of the second-half with chances few and far between for the Seadogs.
Billy Whitehouse very nearly continued his scoring form in the latter stages but couldn't finish off from Joe Nolan's sublime 25-yard pass which split the visitors' defence before David Moyo hit the crossbar with an audacious effort, getting on the end of Josh Popoola's cross to round out the action.
The draw for the Third Round of the FA Isuzu Trophy will take place on Monday, November 20 (3:15pm) - stay tuned to our social media outlets for an announcement once the draw is made.
Chorley: Urwin, Wilson (Moore, 69'), Smith, Ellis, Henley, Calveley (Nolan, 46'), Shenton, Hazlehurst (Whitehouse, 82'), Popoola, Moyo, Ubaezuonu. Unused: Sampson, Drench, Doumbouya, Johnson.
Scarsborough: Whitley, Thornton, Gooda, Coulson, Purver, Green (Brown, 35'), Colville, Wiles, Tear (Maloney, 71'), Durose, Rutledge (Mulhern, 65'). Unused: Weledji, Cracknell, Qualter.
Goalscorers: ⚽ Popoola (53')
Caution: 🟨 Wilson (55') Smith (57') Durose (79')
Referee: Dane McCarrick.
Assistants: Taylor Metcalf & Kavan Hurn.
Attendance: 1,086.
50/50 Draw: 3rd, £29 - 06435. 2nd, £43 - 06443. 1st, £72 - 06420.
Next Up: We're back on the road, as we travel away to Blyth Spartans this Tuesday evening (7:45pm kick-off) - looking to make it four wins in the row.
Full Match Gallery Below courtesy of David Airey 📸
