Chorley 1, Blyth Spartans 1: Magpies frustrated by Blyth

This was a game which had home win written all over it as the Magpies built up impressively sustained pressure in the last 15 minutes of the first half and promptly took the lead two minutes after the break.

But the expected goal-rush never came as Chorley were denied a clear sight of goal by a hard-working Spartans’ defence and, boosted by their goal midway through the second half, Blyth proceeded to make a real fight of it for the remainder of the game.

Andy Preece summed up the frustration of the first half, saying: “We got into great areas, got crosses in and some great balls into the box but without finding a finish or really working the goalkeeper.”

The best strike by the hosts was a trademark Adam Blakeman free-kick on the half-hour which flew just over the bar. Other attempts either were scrambled away or lacked a clean connection in a packed goalmouth.

However, Connor Hall kept up his consistent scoring run begun in pre-season with another classy finish to give Chorley the lead on 47 minutes. A well-weighted ball over the top of the visitors’ defence was seized upon by Hall who beat the advancing keeper with a precisely-measured lob.

But further efforts to add to the lead were stifled in a crowded Blyth penalty-area and it was the visitors who began to fire warning shots.

After Matt Urwin had done well to tip over a rocket from O’Donnell on the hour, Blyth levelled after 65 minutes.

Following a free-kick, substitute Lewis McNall, who had been on the pitch for only a matter of minutes, left Urwin standing with a cracking low drive into the corner of the net from 30 yards.

Andy Preece rang the changes with three late substitutions but in the closing minutes if one side was going to bag the winner it looked more likely to be Blyth.

CHORLEY : Urwin, Challinor, Wilson, Leather, Whitehouse (Schorah 74), Calveley, Sampson, Tomlinson (Nolan 74), Shenton (Johnson 86), Blakeman, Hall.