Hesketh pleased with young Magpies

8:55am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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Chorley are close to achieving manager Tony Hesketh's survival target of six league wins which he set when he took over the Magpies hot seat in February.

A great away win on Saturday at the expense of Garforth Town, who were sixth in the table last week, took the total to five league wins under Hesketh.

The Magpies had chances to clinch a home victory against Clitheroe on Tuesday night but went down 3-2 in the end to a goal in added time.

Hesketh is particularly pleased with the performances of the youngster players he has drafted in since taking over.

Cabbar Bagdagi, 21, scored the winner against Wakefield and Chorley's first goal against Clitheroe while teenagers Danny Pilkington and Adam Farrell have impressed with Farrell scoring in his first two games for the club.

Last time Chorley sank the Blues was 1-0 in a league game at Shawbridge in January 2006, when Chris Thompson scored the goal in the second half, and their last home success against their East Lancashire rivals was almost four years ago, in October 2004, when Luke Horrocks and sub Jonathan Thompson were the second-half marksmen in a 2-0 win.

Manager Hesketh gave credit to predecessor Gerry Luczka for plotting the team's route to the Co-operative Lancashire FA Trophy final, and the players were not disgraced in the 4-1 defeat by Southport on Wednesday.

Skipper Martin Clark, who had twice helped the Sandgrounders to county cup success, was the best player on the field in the final, well belying his age of 37.

Mark Drew's stunning free-kick equaliser in the first half was a highlight and Chorley were in with a great chance of regaining the cup after 25 years until Southport's double-whammy of two goals in the space of three minutes just before half-time.

A disputed penalty late in the game after the referee had played advantage enabled Port to end the night with a 4-1 margin that flattered them.

Hesketh said he was proud of his players' efforts.

"The players were a bit flat in the dressing room afterwards, but then they gave themselves a round of applause for what they had achieved," he said.

"It was quite instinctive, but it was a show of faith between the lads to keep their heads up."

Gavin-Lee Ellison will be in contention for starting place when the Magpies take on Rossendale Unitedat home on Saturday after completing a four-match suspension.

Kieran Fletcher will miss the game against his former club because of a two-match ban for accumulating 10 cautions.