KING TAKES THE CROWN AS MAGPIES ARE DENIED

FC HALIFAX Town maintained their promotion challenge with a hard fought victory to climb into sixth place, while Chorley remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Cameron King netted the only goal of the game for the Shaymen with a back-post header on the hour – this after both sides had hit the woodwork in the first half.

Halifax boss Pete Wild was highly satisfied with his side’s display, commenting: “It was a tough game but we put in a good shift and showed excellent attitude and application. “In the end, that one bit of extra quality for the goal has got us over the line.”

Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio was as realistic as ever in his assessment, adding: “Over the game as a whole Halifax deserved their victory.

“We played our part in an entertaining first half, had chances to score, didn’t take them and were uncharacteristically undone by a ball into the box.”

Devante Rodney had the ball in the hosts’ net inside the opening minute but the linesman’s flag was raised.

This sparked lively exchanges in an end-to-end, fast-paced first half which set the crowd alight as both goals had close calls.

Alex Newby crashed a great shot against the angle of post and bar for Chorley, then Rodney, a constant threat, fired a cracking effort against the post from 20 yards.

The Shaymen’s raids were a shade sharper with Rodney and Jack Redshaw forming a dynamic front two.

Home keeper Matt Urwin twice saved smartly from angled attempts by Redshaw and Danny Williams. Urwin also rescued Chorley by dashing from goal to close down the marauding Rodney.

Alex Newby again proved the Magpies’ sharpest outlet when he forced Sam Johnson into a brilliant sliding save from his acute angled power drive.

The second half failed to live up to expectations in terms of goalmouth action but it was a goal of real quality on the hour mark which settled the issue.

Jeff King delivered a deep centre from wide on the right and his namesake Cameron arrived unchecked at the back post to flash a header just inside the upright, making an awkward chance look easier than it actually was. Scoring chances, however, were at a premium in the rest of the match which Halifax successfully controlled.

If Chorley are to be relegated back to National League North then they’re not going to go without a fight and, to their credit, they worked hard to try to save the game. Ultimately, though, they failed to open up a resolute defence or to test Johnson.

Elliot Newby worked an opening but fired over the bar and that was as close as the Magpies came to salvaging something from the game.