Jake's super strike delivers a point

Chorley 1 Brackley Town 1Chorley extended their unbeaten run to five matches after a thunderbolt from Jake Cottrell helped to secure a National League North point against fellow promotion contenders Brackley Town.
Jake Cottrell (photo: Josh Vosper)Jake Cottrell (photo: Josh Vosper)
Jake Cottrell (photo: Josh Vosper)

The midfield dynamo conjured up an early goal of the season contender when his eighth minute strike nearly burst the net.

But Matt Jansen’s high-flying Magpies then had their wings clipped when James Armson levelled.

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Only ‘goals scored’ separated these two sides in the table before kick-off and there was nothing to separate them at the endr.

Keen to secure a fourth straight home win, the Magpies made a vibrant start and they were rewarded with a goal of real quality in the eighth minute.

Cutting in from the right, wing-back Matt Challoner glided past two defenders before laying the ball off to Cottrell 20 yards out and the midfielder hammered a stunning first-time shot past keeper Laurie Walker.

Chorley had chances to extend their lead, the best of which fell to striker Marcus Carver who was only denied by a last-ditch block.

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But it was far from one-way traffic and Brackley wing-back Ellis Myles began to pose serious questions of the home defence with some surging runs down the right flank.

It was no surprise that Myles had a hand in Brackley’s equaliser in the 43rd minute. With home defender Stephen Jordan struggling with a calf injury, Chorley suddenly found themselves light at the back as Myles embarked on another dangerous run.

The wing-back delivered a low cross, which was only half cleared to Armson, who instinctively buried a low shot past keeper Sam Ashton from the edge of the box.

Both sides had chances to win the game in an end-to-end second half.

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Chorley strikers Jason Walker and Sefton Gonzales both struck the same post with bullet headers.

In between those efforts, Armson nearly snatched a winner for the visitors but his fierce drive was brilliantly tipped aside by Ashton.

Reflecting on another hard-earned point and Cottrell’s magnificent goal, Magpies manager Matt Jansen said: “It was a great strike. Usually he leans back a bit and they fly over the bar.

“It was another fantastic performance and we were unlucky not to take all three points in the end.”