Chorley 0, Wolves 1: Brave Chorley exit FA Cup

Valiant Chorley exited the FA Cup after losing 1-0 to Premier League Wolves at Victory Park.
Vitor Ferreira fires a long range effort past Matty Urwin to give Wolves the lead in the 12th minuteVitor Ferreira fires a long range effort past Matty Urwin to give Wolves the lead in the 12th minute
Vitor Ferreira fires a long range effort past Matty Urwin to give Wolves the lead in the 12th minute

A sweetly struck long-range shot from Vitor Ferreira in the 12th minute proved to be the difference between the sides.

But National League North outfit Chorley were certainly not disgraced and had their chances.

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Indeed in the second half, the hosts looked the more likely to score as they put their top flight opponents, whose starting XI boasted more than 250 international caps between them, under some serious bouts of pressure.

Joao Moutinho is surrounded by Mike Calveley and Connor HallJoao Moutinho is surrounded by Mike Calveley and Connor Hall
Joao Moutinho is surrounded by Mike Calveley and Connor Hall

In the end they could not find a way past former England goalkeeper John Ruddy.

The Magpies almost got off to the perfect start when Elliot Newby forced Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy into a smart save in the opening minute of the match.

Connor Hall stole the ball on the halfway and released strike partner Harry Cardwell down the inside left channel

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He picked out a cross for Newby whose first touch sat up for him and he volleyed towards goal but Ruddy got down well to cling on to the ball.

After that early scare, the visitors began to get settle into what will felt very unfamiliar surroundings to what they are used to in the top flight.

England international Conor Coady supplied a great through ball for Leander Dendonker to run on to in the fifth minute.

He played the ball square to Patrick Cutrone inside the box but his shot was deflected for a corner.

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Five minutes Will Tomlinson fired straight at Ruddy from 25 yards after Cardwell's header had been half-cleared by Willy Boly.

With the Magpies more than holding their own, the Premier league outfit took the lead out of the blue in the 12th minute.

Twenty-year-old Portuguese star Ferreira picked up the ball fully 30 yards out and unleashed a swerving shot which dipped over Magpies No.1 Matty Urwin.

It was fine effort but the home goalkeeper may have felt he could have done better.

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Despite the setback, the home side did not let it affect them as they went straight back on the attack and Tomlinson volleyed wide in the 17th minute after Scott Leather's cross had been headed clear.

After the early goal and the flurry of half chances for either side, the game settled down with the visitors enjoying large bouts of heavy possession with the Magpies doing a good job of containment.

The speedy Rayan Alt-Nouri, at right wing-back, forced Tomlinson into a lunging tackle in the 36th minute which resulted in the Magpies midfielder going into the referee's notebook.

In time added on at the end of the first half, Cutrone went close with a vicious shot from outside the area but it was just too high.

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Like the first half, Chorley came out for the second half firing on all cylinders and perhaps should have equalised in the 47th minute.

Oliver Shenton delivered a fine ball from the left straight on to the head of Hall, who was eight yards out.

Unfortunately, the former Bolton man could only direct his header into the grateful arms of Ruddy.

Four minutes later, Urwin had to desperately punch clear after Moutinho's searching ball forward flicked Leather's head.

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Then straight down at the other end, Hall volleyed over after Birch's centre from the right.

Chorley continued to ask questions and after a concerted bout of pressure, they forced a corner in the 61st minute.

Tomlinson's set piece found Halls at the back post and his header was tipped over the bar by Ruddy.

Shortly after Coady went into the referee's notebook after a late challenge on Cardwell.

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The Magpies continued to push forward and forced a flurry of corners without creating anything clear cut.

Wolves, meanwhile, seemed content to hold on to what they had.

All the play was generally in the visitors' half but unfortunately the Magpies' remarkable run in the competition was brought to an end.

Matty Urwin, Arlen Birch, Andy Halls, Scott Leather, Lewis Baines (Sean Miller), Will Tomlinson, Mike Calveley, Oliver Shenton (Adam Henley), Elliot Newby, Harry Cardwell, Connor Hall (Harvey Smith).

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Subs:, Oliver Putnam, Tyler Garratt, Malakai McKenzie, Leo Roberts, Liam Birchall, Lewis Dutton

Booked: Tomlinson, Cardwell, Birch

Wolves: John Ruddy; Willy Boly, Conor Coady, Max Kilman, Ki-Jana Hoever, Leander Dendoncker, João Moutinho (Ruben Neves), Vitor Ferreira (Adama Traore), Rayan Ait-Nouri; Fabio Silva, Patrick Cutrone (Pedro Neto)

Subs: Rui Patricio, Nigel Lonwijk, Nelson Semedo, Lewis Richards, Owen Otasowie, Theo Corbeanu

Booked: Coady

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