Magpie Show Stealers

Many non league clubs hope to find a diamond of a young player that help them move through the leagues or to one day improve the clubs bank balance. The 126 year old Victory Park football club have had one by the name of Paul Mariner, he played for the Magpies betwwen 1971 & 1973 before a move to Plymouth Argyle for a then whopping £22,000, he went on to play for Ipswich in the 81 Eufa cup final and represent England 33 times. He rightly as his shirts displayed in the social club a great bit of football history belonging to the club. Strikers have not fired this year for Boro, Ian Fitzpatrick as now left the club , changes then for Boro with Roscoe & Griff Jones starting up front. The team and management enter for some the familiar surroundings of Chorley FC .Roscoe shows his early indication of winning everything in the air from Roberts early free kick after Mark Jones is fouled. The first 20 minutes belong to Boro and they should have been in the lead on 7 minutes when after a quality move starting at the rear with Dawson through midfield to Sampson , his measured pass finds Connell out wide and a great delivery into the near post, Griff Jones attempts to side foot it in and is unlucky not to find the net. The resulting corner evades all except Griff Jones now on the back stick he curls a shot cleverly over the defence that beats the keeper but not the post, the ball is cleared to safety. Its all Boro and when Griff Jones turns brilliantly on the edge of the box but a perfect tackle by Mulineux saves Chorley. Chorley are struggling to match the start Boro have produced and are guilty of some fiery tackles so far unpunished. Chorley do settle after 20 minutes but largely depend on long lofted balls to progress. They do win a corner that demands a good clearance. Mark Jones is beaten to the ball in midfield by Walsh who races toward goal as he is closed down he feeds a good ball into the path of Shorrock who fires , the ball takes a kind deflection off Ekersley that Priestley can push round the post for a corner.The game is now levelling out with opportunities for both teams. Boro are looking the best bet to score first and continue to play football, passing well and finding the runs of Griff Jones and Roscoe.Roscoe and Mulineux trade insults in the box and both look to flair up, the ref calms it down but obvious niggle is creeping into the game. Radcliffe are guilty of resulting to the same tactics of air football used by Chorley as we have 5 to 10 minutes of head tennis and very high clearances . Most combination play starts at the feet of Connell who seems in his stride and when not with the ball shows some good chasing down of lost causes. Boro have forged some good positions but as of late can't get into a finishing position, Roberts as largely failed to beat the first man in his crosses and this leaves both Griff Jones and Roscoe wasting runs. The first half energy and good passing play by the visitors as been good to watch and hopefully will continue even in the league position we are in. Boro are out early and are left to wait a good few minutes before the hosts emerge. Boro have replaced Oates for Unsworth and sees Sampson revert to right back, Oates goes into midfield. Burke replaces Walsh for the magpies. Chorley try first with a shot from Sharrock that goes wide. Boro respond by Griff Jones keeping the ball well in the corner his cross is deflected for a corner. Samson uses the loose ball from the corner well to send a class pass to Roberts his cross his good but defended well. Quickly to the other end by the keeper as Sharrock running unchallenged he passes to the feet of Eckersley just as he is ready to pull the trigger 8 yards out Dawson supplies an impeccable challenge that saves a certain goal. Within seconds the ball as not been cleared and Dawson thwarts Eckersley again. Chorley are now the likeliest side and they win a corner but to no avail. End to end stuff at Victory Park as we approach the hour. A couple of bookings for both sides as each try to dominate the game. The game is now a more scrappy affair littered with petty fouls and rushed passing. Brockley leaves the field after earlier complaining about his sight, Martyn Forrest moves into the centre half slot. On 75 minutes Dawson up ends Burke in the box, Burke was bearing down on Priestley in the box. The ref decides a penalty is not punishment enough and sends Dawson off. Eckersley steps up and coolly places the spot kick past Priestley for 1-0. Boro are devastated as again the possession and better quality football as been theirs for the majority of the game. Frustration gets the better of him and he lunges with two feet up on the Chorley defender Finch. The ref gives Oates a straight red and Boro have only 9 men to get an equalizer with. Boro dont lie down and produce a couple of moves in the last fifteen that would have you believing they belong in the top three. Connells sees his strong drive leave his boot and rise just over the bar from 30 yards. Connell in the heart of a good move into the Chorley box sees him pushed to the ground just as he was about to shoot from 6 yards. The ref looks away. Connell is replaced after having his best game in a while by Howson, Connell looked very disappointed.Gaps are now appearing as Chorley take the two man advantage they have been given and break well , Priestley pulls off a fine save from Eckersley whos rasping shot from the edge of the box is pushed firmly over the bar high to Priestleys left.
As the 90 minutes are gone and two are added, Roscoe wins the free kick by Roberts from the keeper and the scrambled ball lands for Howson he shoots straight into the keepers chest. Chorley break and go two up as Nolan feeds Mcgann in acres , he as time to pick his spot to scoop the ball over the advancing keeper.The game ends with most Boro followers amazed we came away with nothing, a Chorley supporter on the way out summed it up for me when he said,'how did we get away with that?' The suspensions from this game will hurt us as will the result itself. I enjoyed the game and the football boro played, i believe results will come, the win at Chorley last season was the turning point for the club , lets hope this visits is.

I wonder if Paul Mariner is available for any goalscoring tips!

see you soon