FC United 0 Chorley 0

 Source: Chorley Citizen

 Chorley cast aside their off-the-field cash-flow problems to produce a professional performance which stifled a well-drilled United side in a finely-balanced contest at Gigg Lane.

Given tremendous backing by some 200 supporters in a crowd of 2,075, the Magpies were good value for their point after weathering an early onslaught.

United’s Astley Mulholland fired wide from an inviting Lee Neville centre and then Dean Stott unaccountably missed the target after sidestepping Magpies’ keeper Russ Saunders.

As Chorley fought their way into the match, Chris Denham, racing onto a fine through pass, got the ball beyond keeper James Spencer but was unlucky to see it roll inches past the far post.

Then the lively Denham forced Spencer into an impressive diving save to keep out a fierce snap-shot.

The visitors’ best effort soon followed, a thunderous 25 yards’ free-kick by Adam Roscoe which rattled the bar with Spencer well beaten. But United were always dangerous and Saunders did well to change direction and grab a deflected shot from Neville.

Chorley withstood renewed home pressure after the break before hitting back through Denham whose powerful 20-yards’ drive was tipped over by Spencer. As the absorbing game entered its final quarter, United raised the tempo and Saunders alertly back-pedalled to hold a clever Mike Norton lob under the bar.

United came closest to breaking the deadlock six minutes from time when Matt Wolfenden’s header from a partially-cleared corner rebounded from the foot of a post.

In a Chorley breakaway in the first minute of added time, Denham burst into the box and went down under a token challenge. Harshly booked in the game’s first minute, Denham was given a second caution for ‘diving’ and shown the red card, an unfortunate finale to a highly creditable Chorley display in which centre-back Wayne Maden was outstanding.

8:54am Monday 5th December 2011 in Sport