Chorley 2, Derby County 0: Magpies defeat Rams in third round of FA Cup

Goals by Connor Hall and Mike Calveley saw them defeat Championship outfit Derby County at Victory Park.

Without caretaker manager Wayne Rooney and their entire first-team squad after a Covid-19 outbreak, the visitors fielded a team made up of players from their academy.

The average age of the Rams' team was 19. It included five 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old.

The elder statesman of the team was 22-year-old Joe Bateman.

Despite their lack of experience, the young Rams put up a great fight but in the end they were no match for the more streetwise Magpies.

Although hardly veterans themselves, Chorley certainly had the edge in terms of experience.

Manager Jamie Vermiglio was disappointed not to be able to pit his wits in the dugout against Rooney, but the former England star reportedly rang the Magpies manager on the morning of the match to wish him well.

The first chance of the match arrived to the young Rams and what an opportunity it was in the sixth minute.

Captain Isaac Hutchinson produced a nice bit of skill in midfield before slicing the Magpies' backline open with the perfect through ball for Cameron Creswell.

The forward was clean through and appeared to have been brought down by Chorley goalkeeper Matty Urwin.

However, referee Kevin Friend had spotted Urwin had got a hand to the ball and gave a free-kick in the opposite direction.

One of the obvious tactics Chorley intended on utilising was the physical presence of Cardwell up front.

And it was this ploy which saw the home side take the lead in the 10th minute.

Will Tomlinson's corner was met at the back post by Cardwell who headed the ball into the danger area.

Scott Leather flicked the ball on to hand Hall the simplest of tasks of heading home from a couple of yards.

Seven minutes later Cardwell was making a nuisance once again from a corner and this time the ball fell to Oliver Shenton but his left-foot shot flew over the bar.

Three minutes later, Hall had an opportunity to double the Magpies' lead but he shot wide from six yards after Cardwell's cross from the right.

With a goal to the good, the home began to exert a tight grip on the game as their young and inexperienced opponents struggled to deal with their physicality.

Elliot Newby curled a rising effort over the bar in the 38th minute and three minutes later, Tomlinson almost make it 2-0 but his brilliant looping volley crashed against the crossbar with the back peddling Matt Yates in the Derby goal well beaten.

The Magpies came out for the second half like they started the first and Yates was forced into a scrambling save in the 47th minute after Hall's shot from inside the area.

Nine minutes later, Shenton picked out Newby with a fine ball. The winger cut inside but his subsequent shot lacked power to trouble Yates in the Derby goal.

Soon after, Cardwell headed wide of the post after Lewis Baines' centre from the left.

In the 63rd minute, the home should really have made it 2-0 when Shenton released Birch down the right. The full-back sent over an inviting cross but Calveley headed wide.

With 20 minutes to go, Cardwell almost made it 2-0 in comical fashion. A corner swung in was heading the big man's way but he fell over just as the ball reached him and he was left trying to head the ball home while lying on the ground.

The Magpies continued to push forward and Shenton fired wide with a shot from outside the area in the 75th minute.

In terms of an attacking threat, the young Rams rarely threatened but Harrison Solomon perhaps should have done better when he headed into the arms of Urwin from a corner in the 76th minute.

Great play between Newby and substitue Lewis Reilly - on for the injured Hall - saw the former's strike deflect over the bar in the 82nd minute.

Two minutes later, Chorley made the game safe with their second goal.

Newby's centre from the right was deflected home by Calveley who beat Yates to the ball to seal another famous cup win.

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

Subs: Lewis Reilly, Oliver Putnam, Malakai McKenzie, Leo Roberts, Sewa Marah, Sean Miller

Derby: Matt Yates, Max Bardell(Bartosz Cybulski), Dylan Williams, Harrison Solomon, Hugo Jinkinson, Joe Bateman, Osazee Aghatise (Festy Ebosele), Liam Thompson (Ola Ibrahim), Bobby Duncan, Isaac Hutchinson, Cameron Creswell

subs: George Sykes-Kenworthy, Seb Tomlinson, Jack Rogers, Charlie Rutt, Eli Christie