URWIN SAVES MAGPIES’ DAY

CHORLEY 0 CURZON ASHTON 0 CHORLEY WON 4-2 ON PENS

STALWART Matt Urwin came to Chorley’s rescue once again to continue their quest for promotion.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper, in his seventh year at the club, saved from Jordan Richards and Hayden Campbell in a tense penalty shootout to earn the Magpies a play-off semi-final with Brackley Town.

And Urwin kept his side in the promotion hunt with a magnificent save to deny Curzon;s Stefan Mols two minutes before the end of the extra-time.

Both sides went close in a tense opening half with Chorley’s Justin Johnson seeing his powerful strike blocked by Nash keeper Josh Ollerenshaw while, at the other end, Urwin parried Adam Barton’s effort.

An end-to-end second half ensued with chances at a premium, but Curzon should have stolen victory three minutes from time when captain Jimmy Spencer fired narrowly just wide of the post.

Craig Mahon’s Curzon enjoyed the better of extra-time and fashioned the best chance of the match two minutes from time when Spencer capitalised on Mark Ellis’ slip and set up Mols, who found himself one-on-one with Urwin, who somehow tipped his effort over the bar.

Chorley’s Jack Hazlehurst and Curzon’s Richards missed the first penalties in the shootout, and after Urwin denied Campbell it was left to Kieran Glynn to wrap it up for the Magpies.

“What a night,” said relieved boss Andy Preece. “We were fortunate but, over the season, when you finished fourth, nine points clear, then maybe you deserve a bit of luck, and we got that.

“Ultimately, it shows that we won’t give in, we’re tight and we’re hungry.”

Nash boss Mahon added: “I’m gutted for the lads. Each man to their own, I though tonight we were fantastic and I think we deserved it. They gave us absolutely everything and you can’t ask for more than that.”