Magpies get Hall's handy gift.

Radcliffe go into their fourth game in nine games with an unchanged line up that saw victory at Woodley. Chorley after a free weekend arrive from Victory park without a win on their two league outings. Will teams fly out to Asia when they have a free weekend this season to play in the Unibond Asia cup , come back and then complain of too many games? Perhaps, not, but many an elite club would complain of four games in nine days. Full available squads at this level I believe show good commitment, and after all it is an holiday weekend.

Tony Hesketh's men kick off after a change of ends in their changed kit of yellow. Radcliffe look glad to be back on grass showing some good early touches and movement. This results in a good turn on the edge of the magpies box to release Griff Jones who just cant keep it in play.

Sampson wins a throw and duly finds Griff Jones who is beaten to the ball and from the throw in tests the central defence who clear only to Sampson who fires at goal but can't change the scoreline. The ball lands in tune with a Chorley counter that is promising but not dangerous. The trend starts on a good end to end game.The first round goes to Boro who get to the final third well and with a couple of Flynn long throws pose a threat although Chorley's Smalley is content in defending them.

Chorley move quickly through the park when Burke finds Finch providing Goodeve and Nolan with the chance to ask the question of Dawson who dutifully clears well. On the turn of fifteen minutes Griff gets the better of his shadow for the day Smalley seeking Mark Jones who then gives Heald the time to test the Chorley keeper who passes the exam but gives a corner. Heald sends a good corner in to danger that is sent for another corner by Zac Jones. Sampson provides this time and Heald benefits with a shot that is blocked for Sammo to try again but is too long for Griff. Good pressure early on.

Oates as his job description states his putting his weight into the challenge that the ref disagrees with and Mr Stott as a word or two. The ball is shared between the two teams but mainly won by Heald who's thumping legal tackles must be heard in Chorley pub gardens.

As the game breaths for a Chorley free kick by Goodeve is sent towards goal that is clearly not read by Hall who allows the ball through his hands and .........Catastrophe ,Chorley 1 Boro 0! Greg will struggle to shrug that off. A pity as thus far in the campaign he as been positive.

Heald looks for a quick response driving down the Chorley left he waits support but to no avail the ball lands with the visitors.

Boro come again with a perfect Heald cross met by Dawson who beats the magpie no 1 and the bar by two inches. The game switches to a free kick by Eckersley that Flynn sends back the way it came. Smalley is minding Griff Jones well after Connell sparks interest. Flynn's long throws are cleared well and result in small counter attacks by Chorley.

Half an hour quickly goes with football tennis being played though Chorley look sharp around the boro box.

Connell is frequent in seeing the pass but cant execute as both Oates and Griff Jones are potential customers. Heald continues to be bullish down the left but is seeing too many dead ends. When Chorley pick the pieces the break well. A couple of decisions go the Goalkeepers way as it becomes obvious by both teams the ref does not like strikers challenging for the ball. Chorley are seeing chances made only by boro mistakes

Michael Oates is falling deeper to pursue the ball and the boro frontline looks weakened as he does, his runs across the magpies back four do cause problems , a ball falls for Griff who hesitates to shoot and the half is ending rapidly. Boro finish the half and demand two corners in quick succession with little to worry about by the resolute Chorley defence. They close the half with a corner that is picked clean by Hall.

The floodlights going on for the second half are clearly the signal that the red arrows waited for before the flew over Stainton Park in formation , now i know the lucky 7 and half time draws are great initiatives but they surely can't stretch to that? can they?

No change in staff on the field as Boro start first with a brisk move involving Connell, Kelly & Oates no real threat.A real threat is the Chorley number 9 who proves tricky only for Sampson to cut any tricks short on the edge of the box. Connell is working hard when in possession and forces the ball out to sampson who miscues the cross that is easy for the keeper.

50 minutes in and a good move by Boro involving Griff, Heald & Connell show they can ping the ball quickly in front of the Chorley back four.

As Boro look lively Kelly concedes a free kick that results in the front three linking well without further test of Hall.

Great defensive tackling by Henry of Chorley ends Healds run but provides a shot for Mark Jones who, when central shoots high and wide.

Some niggly fouls around the middle of the park breaks up momentum for each team. Boro give away a soft freekick when Dawson pulls the shirt of Eckersley, he takes the kick to Henry and on to Finch who Dawson arrives late on in a great spot for Chorley. Hall lines up a wall of four but sees the ball kicked high and rising above his goal.

Connell goes off looking tired passed the hour mark replaced by Howson who impacts by making his presence felt and the keeper plays safe. The team are lifted by Howson as they see a goal from him. Sampson steps up a gear and delivers his two best crosses of the game , Howson can not get to them. Mark Jones & Howson combine well but are beaten and Chorley break ,Jones tactically fouls in the centre.

20 minutes to go and Rutter is on for Waine. Finch leaves the pitch for Sharrock and the game picks up.Within minutes of the substitutions Chorley break well on the left of Boro's box with Nolan back healing for Goodeve who introduces full back Henry to ram home a shot across Hall for their second of the game , a very good goal, 2-0.

Flynn is replaced by Chappell who's first touch is a foul. the free kick is delivered and Chorley pose a threat through Nolan who as a dig but is saved to allow Eckersley a second bite, boro under pressure.

Pressure is off with a quick move down the left with a ball in that finds Howson perfectly placed on 76 to make the game interesting. Boro 1 Chorley 2.

The final 15 sees Boro go for broke with the positive forward play by Rutter and Howson . Rutter finds the right wing well and exploits , looks a quality player who added spark and menace to the wing.

Farrell enters with Burke going off defensive duties beckon. With the game now wide open with Boro having a go no threat is heading Boro's way. Some great crosses by Sampson and Rutter on a different day could have brought a prize.

The whistle goes after some pressure too late by Boro, Chorley defended well throughout and where always able to punish on the counter. The way the game finished posed the question , is this how we start? At times early on i felt too much respect was given, although this can not be said of a couple of fouled mouth players and supporters who got very personal over Halls mistake and some refereeing decisions, even Mark Halsey's attendance on the terrace, the premiership ref, didn't pursuade the man in the middle and his assistants to lay the law down .

A good game of football was enjoyed by a good bank holiday crowd although the result perhaps not.

I had a good result by winning the half time bubbly! If your not in it you can't win it! Get your quids out for the cause next week.