Visitors Scarborough Athletic sunk by Chorley comeback
In a battling, highly competitive match, Boro went down 2-1 at Chorley despite going ahead through Rio Allan’s fifth goal in three games.
The home side came back to score from two set-pieces, then defended magnificently to hold on for the three points.
Lewis Maloney made his 200th competitive Boro appearance, but Alex Wiles was withdrawn from the squad due to a tight calf during the pre-match warm-up.
Boro began brightly, Alex Purver-Hannan passed out to Jack Waldron, who raced down the right, but Steven Bala’s tackle halted his run, then Mo Fadera jinked past two defenders and fired straight at keeper Li-Bau Stowell.
Chorley then enjoyed a good spell, Alex Brown slid in to clear a low ball into the goalmouth from Mike Calveley, Jack Moore curled a shot over, a Jack Hazlehurst shot was blocked by Will Thornton, and a Maloney tackle halted a run from Elliott Taylor.
Both sides played some neat passing moves without testing the keepers.
For Chorley, a 25-yarder from Bala whistled past the post, Adam Blakeman stabbed a shot wide, and a serious of testing crosses from Blakeman were gathered by Ryan Whitley or headed clear by Thornton or Kieran Weledji.
In Boro attacks, Fadera surged forward and fired narrowly wide, Luca Colville passed to Allan, who was tackled by Blakeman as he ran into the box, and a fierce Colville strike was blocked by Sam Fielding, as the first half ended goalless.
The second half was equally competitive, Brown tackled Moore when he charged into the Boro area, then at the other end a low Luke Hall cross was hacked clear by Blakeman, before the deadlock was broken when Weledji passed forward to Fadera, who dinked a pass to Allan on the edge of the box and he clinically fired into the bottom left-corner.
Chorley fought back, Thornton tackled Hazlehurst as he ran through, before they drew level when Blakeman sent a free-kick forward, a scramble developed, and the ball dropped at the feet of Harvey Smith at the back post, who drilled his low shot into the far corner.
It was now end to end, but both defences were strong, a Maloney corner was punched off the head of Dom Tear by keeper Stowell, while Weledji hacked clear to foil Lewis Salmon at the back post, but the hosts went ahead when a Blakeman corner was headed in by skipper Calveley.
Boro surged forward looking for an equaliser, Tear was fouled on the edge of the box, and Maloney bent the free-kick round the wall, but Stowell dived to push wide, and Smith twice threw his body in the way to block shots from Fadera.
Hall fed Colville, whose shot was blocked by Max Hunt, and keeper Stowell made a fantastic diving save to tip away a low Tear shot, as Chorley held on for the win.
CHORLEY - Stowell, Smith, Hunt, Calveley (c), Blakeman, Rowe, Hazlehurst (Popoola 72), Bala (Bird 88), Taylor (Salmon 78), Fielding, Moore (Henley 85), unused subs - Ellis, Whitehouse, Horbury.
BORO - Whitley, Waldron (Tear 70), Brown, Weledji, Thornton, Purver Hannan, Hall, Maloney, Allan, Fadera, Colville, unused subs - Duckworth, Stuttard.
REFEREE - Mark Bell.
GOALS - Harvey Smith 65, Mike Calveley 81 (Chorley) Rio Allan 59 (Boro).
GOAL ATTEMPTS - CHORLEY 7 (2 on target) BORO 9 (4 on target).
CORNERS - CHORLEY 2 BORO 9.
OFFSIDES - CHORLEY 6 BORO 3.
YELLOW CARDS - Mike Calveley (Chorley), Luca Colville, Alex Brown (Boro).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Alex Brown.
ATTENDANCE - 1,120 (160 away).