Chorley 1 - Lancaster City 2:
VICTORY PARK VICTORY FOR CITY
Lancaster did the double over their local rivals in a closely fought tie at a venue that will have been last season’s home ground for some of The Dolly Blues’ squad, including manager Tony Hesketh and his assistant Phil Brown.
Two of last year’s Magpies, Jordan Connerton and Adam Farrell, linked up for the first chance of the game. Farrell’s ball over the Chorley defence was pulled down brilliantly by Connerton, but the ball fell behind him and he dragged his shot past the post. Mike Rushton had a shot blocked from inside the box and Paul Jarvis’ speculative 25-yard volley on the rebound went wide. Connerton then had another chance, Rushton again involved. The winger’s low cross was taken round ‘keeper Zac Hibbert (an ex-Dolly) but the angle was too tight and his shot hit the side netting.
Lancaster finally made the breakthrough a minute before half time through leading goalscorer Connerton. A long free kick was flicked on by Chris Ward, another City player who was at Chorley last term, and Connerton slotted into the far corner.
Play was held up for about seven minutes right after the restart when, for the second time in as many games for Lancaster, a linesman was injured and had to be replaced. Lancaster’s fans were outraged at the substitute linesman and referee’s refusal to allow Jonathan Smith his first Lancaster goal. A corner from Jarvis went along the ground and bypassed everyone but wasn’t enough to stop Smith turning the ball towards goal 10 yards out. The ball bounced down off the bar but it wasn’t given after discussion between the two officials.
Four minutes later Chorley hit back. Stephen Burke robbed Smith on Chorley’s left side and advanced into the box, however Smith recovered well and deflected a shot onto the post and out. Reece Kelly’s resulting corner was only cleared to Connor Millington, who knocked back into the box for Alex Porter to steer home from close range. A Paul Jarvis set piece evaded everyone again, this time an in-swinging free kick from the right. Zac Hibbert was almost caught out and the ball almost nestled in the far corner.
With ten minutes of normal time remaining Connerton got his 35th goal of the season. Mike Rushton and Guy Heffernan did well do work space for a cross on the right, the latter delivering a ball into the box that City substitute Dominic Ward and Connerton both jumped for. The ball went over Ward but Connerton got just enough power on his header, which seemed to take and an age to roll into the bottom corner, under pressure from a Chorley defender.
Chorley: Zac Hibbert, Chris Smalley, Jamie Nay, Stuart Howson, Wayne Maden, Reece Kelly, Lee Shillito, Connor Millington (Danny Nolan, 90+1), Stephen Burke, Alex Porter.
Lancaster City: Martin Fearon, Guy Heffernan, Neil Marshall, Andrew Teague (booked), Jonathan Smith, Chris Ward, Mike Rushton (Dominic Ward, 73), Jerome Watt (Max Rothwell, 84), Jordan Connerton, Adam Farrell, Paul Jarvis.
Chorley Goal: Porter- 74 City Goals: Connerton (2)- 44, 80 Gate: 438
Ryan McMenamin
Saturday 20th January 2010
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