Words: Ryan Jacobs, Images: David Airey
THE Magpies claimed all three points on the road at Spennymoor Town thanks to an own goal and a bullet header from Mike Calveley in the 86th minute, ending the Moors' 18-match unbeaten home record, lasting from January 2024 through to today.
Both sides' took time to settle into the game, an early sighter for Brad James in the Spennymoor goal from Warren Clarke's cross, though, both teams struggled to get a real foothold in the game early on.
However, following a nice spell of possession and pressure Chorley would be rewarded on the 22nd minute after a Michael Ledger header looped over James and into the Moors' own net after some excellent pressure from Mark Ellis and Mike Calveley, who helped create the mistake in defence.
From then on, Chorley did not stop pushing on the front-foot in the first half, with one of the biggest chances coming just before the half-hour mark.
After a brilliant move from back to front, Clarke went through one-on-one thanks to a delightful pass from Momodou Touray, but, having opened his body nicely, his effort went just wide.
The link up between Adam Blakeman and Ellis has been trouble for teams this season and that was evident again, minutes later.
A wonderful cross from the halfway line saw it land on the head of Ellis, who came agonisingly close to doubling the Magpies' lead with his effort just going wide of the post.
Then, ten minutes before the break, Calveley hit a superb low-driven strike that forced James into a big save.
After the interval, the Magpies were forced into an early change, Ellis making way for Scott Wilson due to injury.
It would then be loanee Dubem Eze who would spark the game into life with two chances in quick succession, the first coming from a counterattack, with Eze cutting in from the right before hitting it hard and low with his left but, unfortunately, hitting it wide.
Then, in the 54th minute Eze danced his way past two defenders before a third was able to put a third and stop the youngster.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, the Moors clawed one back just after the hour mark with Matty Dolan slotting it past Matt Urwin to bring the hosts level.
In the 68th minute, Urwin, on his 300th appearance for the club, made a sensational one-on-one save to deny Will Harris, keeping the Magpies level.
Then, following some sustained pressure from the hosts, an Adam Blakeman corner landed perfectly on Calveley's head, giving Andy Preece's side the lead in the 86th minute - his ninth assist of the campaign.
Mike Calveley celebrates the winning goal for the Magpies (David Airey)
The late goal now sees the Magpies top of the Vanarama National League North thanks to our goal difference.
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Smith, Ellis (Wilson, 45'), Blakeman, Clarke, Horbury, Calveley, Eze (Carr, 83'), Hewitt (Moore, 75'), Touray.
