Chorley 1 Leamington 1: Visitors put the Brakes on Magpies
The Magpies were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after a lively draw with Leamington at Victory Park, where early goals from Anjola Popoola and Max Brogan cancelled each other out.
The Magpies made the perfect start, taking the lead in the eighth minute when on-loan Accrington Stanley striker Popoola – who extended his loan with Andy Preece's side to the end of the season – showed sharp instincts to poke home from close range, registering his third goal for the club in six appearances.
However, the advantage was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Leamington responded as Brogan fired beyond Matt Urwin to restore parity and silence the home crowd.
The remainder of the first half was played at a high tempo, with Taelor O’Kane and Jack Griffiths both seeing efforts blocked as referee Oliver Noonan was awfully busy with his whistle, issuing five yellow cards before the interval.
Noonan also dismissed a number of penalty appeals from Chorley, with Popoola twice involved in challenges inside the box, along with a separate incident involving Mike Calveley.
Chorley enjoyed the bulk of possession after the break and pushed for a winner, creating several openings; Leamington, meanwhile, struggled to get out of their own half.
Popoola dragged a shot wide from the right, while Harry Ibbitson was denied by a smart save from Rogan Ravenhill, smothering down low.
Max Wilson went close in stoppage time with a fierce volley from distance, but Ravenhill was equal to it.
Leamington slowed the game down persistently after the restart, ultimately holding firm to secure a valuable point that left Chorley frustrated.
Chorley: Urwin, Moore, Calveley, Smith, Blakeman, Griffiths (Carr 72), O' Kane (Clarke 25), M Wilson, Lalkovic, Popoola, Ibbitson (Walker 90). Subs not used: Henley, Nolan, Sampson, Layton.