THE Magpies’ magical FA Cup journey goes on!
Jamie Vermiglio’s more-seasoned battlers were physically too strong for Derby’s gallant young side and a successful Rams-raid was an unlikely prospect once Chorley had taken a 10th minute lead on their way to yet another headline-grabbing victory.
But the Magpies’ had a let-off in the opening minutes when Isaac Hutchinson threaded a superb pass through to Cameron Cresswell who raced in one-on-one with Matt Urwin.
The keeper was quickly off his line to close down Cresswell who went down under challenge and Premiership referee Kevin Friend appeared to point for a penalty until accepting a signal from his linesman that Urwin had first got a touch on the ball. It was to be the home keeper’s only serious test.
Minutes later Chorley were in front and Connor Hall maintained his superb FA Cup goal scoring streak, nodding home from close range after Scott Leather flicked on a Harry Cardwell header back across goal from a typical training-ground corner-routine.
It completed a treble of FA Cup goals for Hall following decisive contributions in earlier victories over Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United.
As Chorley pressed time and again, Ollie Shenton fired just wide and Hall missed a presentable opportunity.
Then Elliott Newby, surely this game’s most creative player, shot just over when teed up by Hall’s square pass.
But the closest shave for County came just before the break when ex-Rover Willem Tomlinson struck the bar with a dipping snap-shot from the edge of the box.
The young Rams resumed with much greater purpose and briefly looked capable of making a game of it but soon it was Chorley who came close again when Newby laid on a chance for Hall whose low cross-shot was smartly saved by the diving Mark Yates.
County had been unable to get behind the well-organised Chorley defence in which skipper Scott Leather was a dominant presence and it really was a question of whether the Magpies could end any uncertainty with a second goal.
Hutchinson denied Cardwell a tap-in at the back post from yet another Chorley corner and Shenton dragged his shot wide following more attractive approach play before the tie-sealing goal arrived on 84 minutes.
The ever-influential Newby hoisted a teasing diagonal cross into the six-yards’ box and Mike Calveley thrust out a leg to stab the ball into the net.
The goal confirmed a victory which had been more comfortable than anyone in the Chorley camp could have dared to hope for. It not only delivered another huge £136,000 pay-day for the club but ensured a further massive cash-injection from a fourth-round tie which will inevitably again attract TV coverage.
The victory was particularly sweet for Ben Kay and his Victory Park ground-staff who had camped out overnight under the hot-air canopy to ensure that the pitch received uninterrupted protection against the penetrating frost.
Vermiglio said: "It’s a very proud moment for me and for everyone at the club.
"I’m so pleased for all the players who have gelled so quickly as a new group this season and who are giving everything for us.
"The message before the last round was to go and make history for the club and today it was to go and make some more – and they’ve done that."
The Liverpool fan would now like to draw his home town club in Monday night's draw.
"If I could put my hand on the ball in the bag, it would have to be Liverpool," added Vermiglio.
CHORLEY : Urwin, Birch, Halls (Henley, 71), Leather, Baines, Tomlinson, Calveley, Shenton (Smith, 77), Newby, Cardwell, Hall (Reilly, 80). Unused subs. Putnam, MacKenzie, Roberts, Marah, Miller.
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