01-01-2017, 21:13
A first visit in a few years to one of my old stomping grounds Victory Park, Chorley, having lived in the area for about 30 years spent many a happy hour or so watching the Magpies in various legues.
Today they were at home to top of the table AFC Fylde in a local derby. The two sides had met on Boxing Day at Fylde'sswanky new home and had won 2-0 in front of an impressive 3800, today's return attracted the non to shabby gate of 3100.
The ground hasn't changed much over the years although the Duke Street End now has a new cover after the previous one was condemned, the grass banks down the side and behind the Pilling Lane end are still there but in these days of elf and safety you cannot stand on them. One thing is that the ground is still probably one of the coldest in the entire world and on the first day of the year it still was a fridge.
The first half started brightly with both keepers having early action although Taylor in the Fylde goal was slightly lucky to get away with an air shot outside his area. The game settled down into an aerial slug fest with occasional bouts of football breaking out. A brief spell of action when a Bradley snapshot was kept out by Chorley keeper Rowley and within seconds at the other end Taylor made a fine save to deny Charnock, and that was it for the first half.
Chorley took the lead within 30 seconds with a goal of stunning brilliance out of context with anything that had gone before, a long ball found Blakeman 30 yards out his shot hammered into the far corner Taylor clutching fresh air. Advantage the hosts but not for long, within minutes Fylde had scored Collins heading home from a right wing corner. Fylde were in the ascendency although Chorley came close with a header that went narrowly wide, but soon Fylode were ahead, right wing cross Bradley stealing in between defenders heading home from about 8 yards. Fylde were dealing well with Chorley's aerial assault and looked the more likely to score but a collision between Carver and a Fylde defender led to a lengthy stoppage about 15 minutes. Carver needed a lot assistance and due to the delay the players left the field although not before the referee had booked the unfortunate Chorley man.
Following the delay the game became a little disjointed with Chorley still bombing it forward whilst Fylde relied on the break to try and snaffle a third, another Blakeman howitzer went narrowly wide but more gaps were appearing at the back for Chorley and in the 16th minute of injury a Fylde break down the right, Rowe centred and Bond had the easy task of slotting home from close range to seal the points for Fylde.
Fylde stay clear by six points and it is hard not to see them getting promoted to the Conference National at the end of the season.
Chorley 1 AFC Fylde 3 Att 3100
Today they were at home to top of the table AFC Fylde in a local derby. The two sides had met on Boxing Day at Fylde'sswanky new home and had won 2-0 in front of an impressive 3800, today's return attracted the non to shabby gate of 3100.
The ground hasn't changed much over the years although the Duke Street End now has a new cover after the previous one was condemned, the grass banks down the side and behind the Pilling Lane end are still there but in these days of elf and safety you cannot stand on them. One thing is that the ground is still probably one of the coldest in the entire world and on the first day of the year it still was a fridge.
The first half started brightly with both keepers having early action although Taylor in the Fylde goal was slightly lucky to get away with an air shot outside his area. The game settled down into an aerial slug fest with occasional bouts of football breaking out. A brief spell of action when a Bradley snapshot was kept out by Chorley keeper Rowley and within seconds at the other end Taylor made a fine save to deny Charnock, and that was it for the first half.
Chorley took the lead within 30 seconds with a goal of stunning brilliance out of context with anything that had gone before, a long ball found Blakeman 30 yards out his shot hammered into the far corner Taylor clutching fresh air. Advantage the hosts but not for long, within minutes Fylde had scored Collins heading home from a right wing corner. Fylde were in the ascendency although Chorley came close with a header that went narrowly wide, but soon Fylode were ahead, right wing cross Bradley stealing in between defenders heading home from about 8 yards. Fylde were dealing well with Chorley's aerial assault and looked the more likely to score but a collision between Carver and a Fylde defender led to a lengthy stoppage about 15 minutes. Carver needed a lot assistance and due to the delay the players left the field although not before the referee had booked the unfortunate Chorley man.
Following the delay the game became a little disjointed with Chorley still bombing it forward whilst Fylde relied on the break to try and snaffle a third, another Blakeman howitzer went narrowly wide but more gaps were appearing at the back for Chorley and in the 16th minute of injury a Fylde break down the right, Rowe centred and Bond had the easy task of slotting home from close range to seal the points for Fylde.
Fylde stay clear by six points and it is hard not to see them getting promoted to the Conference National at the end of the season.
Chorley 1 AFC Fylde 3 Att 3100
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