Jansen realistic about Magpies play-off hopes

Saturday's 2-0 win over Boston United might have moved Chorley up to within six points of a play-off spot, but boss Matt Jansen says it is still a long shot.
Chorley players celebrate after Paul Jarvis scored the winning penalty Pictures show the Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy FinalChorley players celebrate after Paul Jarvis scored the winning penalty Pictures show the Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy Final
Chorley players celebrate after Paul Jarvis scored the winning penalty Pictures show the Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy Final

The eighth-placed Magpies are closing the gap on fifth-placed Nuneaton in the National League North table, but Jansen refused to get carried away with a potential last-gasp promotion bid.

And after Chorley lifted the LFA Challenge Trophy for the 17th time in their history with a 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over Lancaster City, Jansen says he is already looking ahead to next season.

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He said: “I’m realistic (about the play-offs). It is a long shot. You can never say never but I am focusing really on next season.

“We had a slow start to this campaign but I have learnt a lot this term. Since I have taken over, there has been around 11 or 12 changes from the starting squad.

“I am planning on adding players over the summer to strengthen the squad.

“If we hadn’t havehad that slow start, we would have been right up there at the top.

“From now on we will take each game as it comes.

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“We need to keep winning games, and if we do that, then who knows.”

Jansen’s men bounced back from the shock 1-0 defeat to relegation threatened AFC Telford by beating Boston 2-0 at Victory Park on Saturday.

The ex-Blackburn Rovers striker was pleased with his sides performance as goals from Courtney Meppen-Walter and Darren Stephenson sealed all three points over sixth-placed Boston.

He said: “We played very well on Saturday. We dominated the first half and we played as well as we have done all season and we were unfortunate not to have been ahead by more after the first half.

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I am happy with the way we performed and it was nice to get the second goal.”

Defender Keil O’Brien is part way through a 28-day loan from Football League side Bury and Jansen was coy about whether the deal will be extended.

He said: “I will speak to David Flitcroft when his loan is up and see where it goes from there.”