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COMFORTABLE WIN SETS UP CHORLEY CLASH

COMFORTABLE WIN SETS UP CHORLEY CLASH

Steve Reynolds19 Sep 2018 - 07:46
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Town set up an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round clash at Chorley on Saturday with a professional performance to comfortably beat Parkgate 3-0.

The NCEL side frustrated Blues for 40 minutes but once the first goal went in the result was never in doubt with goalkeeper Ben Chapman having virtually nothing to deal with all evening.

Neil Baker made two changes to the side that beat Ramsbottom with Niall Green returning after suspension and Lewis Short pushed further forward in place of the unavailable Rob Stevenson, whilst Jordan Johnson came in for the injured Tim Grice.

It was a largely quiet first half with only a couple of Lewis Short efforts to show for Blues territorial advantage. In the 11th minute his low shot was just wide of the post and on 32 minutes he was unlucky to see his goal bound effort deflected past the far post.

The opening goal came in the 42nd minute when Scott Lycett swung in a cross from the right and Dan Trickett-Smith met the ball with a powerful header across the keeper and into the corner of the net.

Blues put the Steelmen under heavy pressure and could have made it two before the break when Jordan Johnson intercepted a poor back-pass and rounded the keeper. However his shot was cleared off the line and the follow-up blocked as Parkgate defended desperately.

Ten minutes after half-time Leek went further ahead when a lovely cross from the left by Andy McWilliams was headed home by Jordan Johnson for his 84th goal for the club, putting him above Darren Twigg and clear in fourth on the all-time scorers list.

Niall Maguire replaced Short on 71 minutes and it took him just two minutes to get on the scoresheet after Trickett-Smith made inroads into the box and squared to leave him with a tap-in.

After the struggles in the first game, this was a routine victory which nets the club £6000 and an attractive tie at National League North leaders Chorley on Saturday.

Line-up:

1. Ben Chapman
2. Niall Green
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Marc Grocott
5. Scott Lycett
6. Darren Chadwick
7. Charlie Walford
8. Sam Hall (12. Mat Bailey, 78)
9. Jordan Johnson
10. Dan Trickett-Smith (14. Jessy Bavanganga, 82)
11. Lewis Short (15. Niall Maguire, 71)

Unused sub: 17. Danny Roberts

Attendance: 214

Man of the Match: Marc Grocott

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