Words: Pete Tscherewik, Images: Pete Keen
CHORLEY broke their seven-year winless duct away at Brackley Town on Tuesday evening thanks to two second-half penalties from Jack Sampson at St James's Park.
The Magpies started the better of the two sides, pinning the hosts inside their own half as Craig Hewitt and Jack Sampson looked to carve out the first real chance of the night.
Tom Carr then went close, giving Jonny Maxted plenty to think about as his header went just over the crossbar before Sampson saw a shot of his own that looked destined for the far-corner, cleared off the line by a defender.
Andy Preece's side continued to look the more dangerous in attack right through to after the restart, where eventually, their persistence paid off.
With 53 minutes on the clock, Hewitt delivered a corner that resulted in Mike Calveley being caught inside the box, a clear spot-kick that Sampson duly converted to claim his first goal of the 2024/25 season.
Chorley continued to press for a second but out of nowhere, Matt Urwin was forced into a smart save down low to deny substitute Morgan Roberts who broke free with real speed on the counter attack before Calveley had to pull off a heroic block to deny a fortuitous shot towards goal from Danny Newton.
Sampson would have the last laugh on the night for the Magpies, Warren Clarke fouled on a fast counter attack as the hosts began to push bodies on forward and our #9 was as calm as you like from 12-yards, firing home into the back of the net from the spot to give Preece's side all three points and their first win at Brackley Town since 2017.
Matt Urwin celebrating his 100th clean sheet for the Magpies (Pete Keen)
Goals: Sampson (53', 85').
Bookings: Lilly (22'), Henley (31'), Ellis (50'), Lyttle (82'), O' Sullivan (86), Urwin (89').
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Ellis, Smith, Wilson, Clarke, Calveley, Horbury, Hewitt (Touray, 90'), Sampson, Carr (Nolan, 79').
UP NEXT: We host Kidderminster Harriers at home this Saturday.
