CHORLEY YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!
Third round beckons for minnows for first time in 137-year history
LEWIS BAINES is hoping that Chorley’s incredible FA Cup run will lift some of the Covid-induced gloom in the Lancashire town.
The left-back scored one goal and made another at Peterborough as the National League North strugglers caused yet another upset in this year’s competition.
Chorley made history by reaching the third round for the first time since forming 137 years ago, following on from a stunning 3-2 first round win at Wigan.
Then, like at London Road on Saturday, the part-time minnows had to come from behind to shock League One opponents.
It was a crying shame that Magpies fans could not be at either match to witness such heroics.
Baines, 22, said: “If you’re a Chorley fan then this will make your Christmas, as the third round isn’t until the New Year.
“Teams can make excuses but we’ve beat what’s in front of us and that’s all you can do.”
The manner of Peterborough’s emphatic defeat gave FA Cup shocks a bad name. They could not even muster a late siege on Matt Urwin’s goal.
Jamie Vermiglio ( below, right)) saw his men quickly lick their wounds after going behind to Jack Taylor’s excellent finish in the second minute to pummel their high-flying opponents.
The visitors had already dy hit the woodwork twice before deservedly levelling with Connor Hall’s close-range strike on the hour.
Three minutes later, Chorley ey took the lead with a clever set-piece routine utine which bamboozled Posh’s dozy defence. nce. Baines drilled Andy Halls’ knockdown n past home keeper Christy Pym and the result never looked in doubt after that.
Pym spared Darren Ferguson’s full-strength side – who started d this tie 90 league places above Chorley y – further embarrassment when he saved aved Harry Cardwell’s 76th-minute penalty, ty, after the striker was bundled over by Mark ark Beevers.
Grumpy Ferguson had kind d words for Chorley in defeat, but vowed d to wield the axe on his flops.
He said: “That was completely pletely unacceptable for this football l club.
“I need to look at it, analyse it and come up with some solutions. s. I’ve got my own ideas.”
PETERBOROUGH: Pym 7, Kent 5, Beevers 5, Blake-Tracy 5, Broom 6
(Kanu 69, 6), Taylor 6, Brown 5, Butler 5 (Mason 65, 5), Szmodics 5 (Clarke 57,
5), Eisa 5, Dembele 5
CHORLEY: Unwin 8, Birch 8, Leather 9, Halls 9, Smith 8, Baines 9, Calvely 8, Newby 9, Shenton 8 (Henley 90), Cardwell 8 (Reilly 90), Hall 9 (Tomlinson 86)