Alex Newby’s penalty earns Chorley a stoppage-time point at Aldershot

Aldershot Town 3 Chorley 3A penalty in added time brought Chorley some reward from their long trek to Hampshire in the National League.
Alex Newby (photo: Stefan Willoughby)Alex Newby (photo: Stefan Willoughby)
Alex Newby (photo: Stefan Willoughby)

But it would have been an injustice if the Magpies had left empty-handed after twice holding the lead in a gripping opening half-hour.

Alex Newby stepped up to score from the spot after Shots’ defender Robbie Tinkler had handled a lofted cross into in the box and been shown a straight red card with the 90 minutes already up.

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The goal ended a frustrating sequence of penalty-misses which has blighted Chorley’s troubled campaign.

And there was further cause for satisfaction in the Magpies’ second goal scored by Grimsby Town loanee Harry Cardwell making an eye-catching debut.

In a bright start by the visitors, another loanee, Fylde’s Scott Duxbury, linked with Marcus Carver on nine minutes to release Newby with a chip forward, which he calmly slotted past the keeper.

But seven minutes later Aldershot were back on terms, Craig Tanner curling home a lovely shot from the edge of the box.

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Chorley were looking threatening going forward and regained the lead in the 25th minute, Cardwell finishing neat approach play with a low shot just inside the post.

The Magpies, however, looked vulnerable at set-pieces and from a free-kick on the half-hour the ball reached Mo Bettaner at the back post for a simple finish.

Both teams continued to probe in search of a third goal after the interval and Chorley were close to finding it when Carver saw a fine shot desperately scooped off the line.

In the final 10 minutes the Shots intensified the pressure and were rewarded on 83 minutes from a corner.

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The Magpies’ defenders failed to attack the well-flighted cross and Dean Rance headed past Matt Urwin.

Chorley fought hard to the finish and rescued a point courtesy of Tinkler’s fatal error of judgement a minute into added time.

Newby’s penalty was confidently dispatched and Jamie Vermiglio’s men thus ended a four-game losing run and a similar sequence without a goal.

CHORLEY: Urwin, Challoner, Teague (E Newby 88), Cardwell (Adams 29; Holroyd 46), A Newby, Meppen-Walters, Carver, Cottrell, Nortey, Duxbury, Kay. Subs (not used): Blakeman, Ross.

Attendance: 1,931.