Words: Pete Tscherewik, Images: David Airey
CHORLEY's ten-game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday evening as Radcliffe condemned the Magpies to a 2-0 defeat at the Neuven Stadium.
The hosts looked to start the game quickly inside the opening ten-minutes, taking the game to Andy Preece’s side, albeit, without testing Matt Urwin between the sticks.
Mike Calveley registered the first effort on target of the night, heading from an Adam Blakeman free-kick, but comfortably held by Mateusz Hewelt in goal.
Chorley continued to grow into the game the more the first-half went on. A consistent flurry of pressure continued to heap on the hosts’ backline, who held firm through to the break as the Magpies looked the far better side at the end of it.
However, five minutes after the restart and it was Radcliffe who hit the front first, Rick Smith heading in from a corner having missed a carbon copy of would be the eventual goal only a few minutes earlier.
Jordan Hulme had an opportunity to double Boro’s lead on the hour mark, but his composure in front of goal let him down and Urwin kept his effort out when the former should arguably have scored.
Pressure again began to build from Chorley, who looked to get back into the game, while the hosts were content to time-waste and look to frustrate Preece’s side at every opportunity.
As the game opened up, Radcliffe doubled their lead on 89 minutes; Hulme prodded home from close range following a smart low cross from Jude Oyibo to condemn the Magpies to their first defeat in 11 games.
