Words: Pete Tscherewik, Images: James Harrison.
CHORLEY were left to rue missed chances as they were put to the sword late on, Frank Mulhern's last-gasp header at the death sealing the win for the Seadogs to complete a comeback from one-nil down.
To their credit, the Magpies started the game really well, much how they did against Hereford FC on Saturday with early, positive attacking signs from Chorley's midfield and forwards.
It didn't take much longer for Andy Preece's side to hit the front though, Craig Hewitt curling a shot into the far-corner past a diving Ryan Whitley after Momodou Touray's smart backheel to find him in the first place.
Craig Hewitt celebrates the opening goal of the night. (James Harrison)
Scarborough looked to react quickly to going a goal behind and Matt Urwin was called into action twice in quick succession, first getting down to deny Luca Colville from a free-kick before parrying away Dom Tear's strong header from a corner acrobatically.
A huge moment in the game then followed on the half-hour mark, George Horbury slipping in Kole Hall quite brilliantly, the former Scarborough man couldn't get his effort on goal though, a huge let-off for the visitors.
Chorley thought they'd scored right on half-time, Hewitt crashing a free-kick off the underside of the bar, somehow leaving the ball to come out having not crossed the line in the eyes of the match officials.
Five minutes into the second-half and Scarborough had a lifeline, Ritchie Bennett heading from Michael Duckworth's cross, which, inadveredly clattered off the head of Adam Henley to wrong-foot Urwin and trickle into the far-corner.
Chances were then far and few between for the Magpies as Jonathan Greening made a number of attacking changes to try and turn the screw.
Urwin was again called upon to deny substitute Lewis Maloney from distance, before, ultimately, the visitors snatached the winning goal, Frank Mulhern heading in at the front-post from a corner to break the Magpies' hearts and condem them to their first defeat of the 2024/25 season.
Goals: Hewitt (10'), Bennett (50'), Mulhern 90+2').
Bookings: Weledji (28'), Hewitt (36'), Purver (54'), Mulhern (90+3'), C. Wilson (90+4').
Chorley: Urwin, Henley (Bird, 90+3'), Ellis, S. Wilson, Blakeman (Clarke, 67'), Calveley, Nolan (Rice, 83'), Horbury, Hewitt, Hall (Smith, 83'), Touray (Carr, 74').
Attendance: 1,150.
UP NEXT: We take on league-leaders, Scunthorpe United away, at the ATTIS Arena, this Saturday.
