Chortley 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1: Preece hails huge victory

He praised the character and resilience of his players and, indeed, they needed both these qualities in abundance to survive a first-half pummelling as the Harriers produced quality, cultured football right from the start. But the Magpies’ reputation as the league’s set-piece kings saw them come from behind, go in front and then resist a sustained rally by the visitors to claim a memorable victory. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Lancashire Evening Post, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.

In the groove from the start, the visitors looked set to play their hosts off the park. Matt Urwin twice kept out stinging shots before the Harriers went ahead after nine minutes. A well-flighted free-kick was met by Zak Brown who headed past Urwin via the inside of a post.



Chorley were forced to hang on to stay in the game and Urwin pulled off two more vital saves before the Magpies slowly grew into the contest. But they had not had a serious shot on goal when they equalised a minute before half-time. A disputed corner found Scott Wilson, who sent a crunching header into the back of the net.

Advertisement Advertisement The Magpies began the second half on the front foot and grabbed the lead on 54 minutes, Mark Ellis rising to meet another corner with a flicked header which appeared to clip Jack Sampson on its way inside the far post. Kidderminster were stunned but spurred into renewed waves of attacks and the Magpies’ defence came under sustained pressure. But they rose to the challenge with real determination and a series of corners and crosses were bravely repelled with Ellis a typically commanding presence.

When called upon, Urwin was a safe pair of hands, one flying save from a fierce rising drive the stand-out moment. Advertisement Advertisement Urged on by vociferous home support in a fine crowd of 1,549, Chorley successfully ran down the clock to emerge with three points which an hour or so earlier had seemed an unlikely prospect. CHORLEY: Urwin, Henley, Wilson, Ellis, Blakeman, Clarke, Nolan (Smith 82), Calveley, Hewitt (Rice 89), Sampson (Touray 66), Carr (Horbury 78).

Sub (not used): Bird.