Chorley 2, Marine 1: Magpies end the year on a high
Chorley made it two wins and a draw from their last four with a well-fought 2-1 victory over Marine on Tuesday evening at Victory Park.
The Magpies moved to within a win of the play-off positions in the National League North as they ended 2025 on a high.
Substitute Harry Ibbitson was the match winner as he struck 13 minutes from time in front a jubilant home support.
Earlier Mike Calveley had given the hosts a half-time lead only for Marine to equalise after the break through Adam Thomas.
First-half pressure from the Magpies was rewarded when Calveley opened the scoring in the 34th minute.
Tom Walker’s corner delivery was superb, and Calveley met it with a powerful header at the near post, the ball crashing in off the underside of the crossbar.
Andy Preece’s side had begun the game brightly and created further opportunities before the break.
Their most notable effort was when Walker again delivered from a corner but defender Mark Ellis’ close-range header was well saved by Marine goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley.
The visitors responded after half-time and drew level through substitute Thomas. A clever pass from Bailey Marsden split the Chorley midfield, allowing Thomas space to turn and fire an unstoppable strike from the edge of the area into the top corner.
Undeterred, Chorley pushed forward in search of a winning goal but were nearly caught out when Finlay Sinclair-Smith broke clear for Marine.
Matt Urwin produced an outstanding double save, first denying Sinclair-Smith and then tipping Charlie Jolley’s rebound onto the crossbar.
The decisive moment of the game came in the 77th minute. Warren Clarke’s long throw caused problems in the Marine box, Ellis flicked the ball on, and after a brief scramble, Ibbitson reacted quickest to head home from close range.
Chorley managed the closing stages well to secure all three points and will now turn their attention to Saturday’s home fixture against Leamington at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium.
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Ellis, S. Wilson, Clarke, Calveley, M. Wilson, Walker (Griffiths 90'), Lalkovic, Carr (Nolan 81'), Popoola (Ibbitson 46'). Subs not used: Smith, Moore, Blakeman, Reeves.