Chorley must now put points on board after FA Cup heroics

Chorley have certainly been riding on the crest of a wave after their spectacular comeback victory over League One outfit – and 2013 cup winners – Wigan Athletic last weekend.

The Magpies fought back from being 2-0 down at the interval to defeat their illustrious opponents 3-2 after extra time at the DW Stadium.

Quite rightly all the plaudits have been heading Chorley’s way over the past few days from a local, regional and national perspective.

However, all that adulation will count for nothing this weekend when the Magpies walk out for a vital National League North game at Victory Park.

In many respects getting the better of Leamington tomorrow carries far more importance than their victory over the Latics.

Jamie Vermiglio’s men sit at the bottom of the table after picking up just a single point from their opening five games.

And the manager knows his challenge now is to raise his players again after the high of their cup heroics to register their first three points of the season.

“When you set your stall out at the start of the season, you don’t really talk about the FA Cup,” said Vermiglio.

“You don’t really talk about having a good run or targeting getting to the first round proper.

“When you’re recruiting in the summer, you talk about the league and what you want to do and your ambitions.

“We are ambitious and want to be pushing up the league table and be in some kind of position where we can push for promotion.

“That seems like a distant dream at the moment but we do know things can turnaround quickly but we need to start picking up points soon. That’s the challenge now.

“You do worry that the lads can’t hit the heights this weekend like they did against Wigan.

“Obviously the adrenaline, the excitement does carry you.

“That’s the challenge when you’re playing these big games that you’re able to do it week in week out.”

The fact that the Magpies are guaranteed to lift themselves off the foot of the table if they win tomorrow could provide the players with extra impetus.

Leamington are currently just a place and a point above Chorley in the table. They lost their first two games of the season, but have shown signs of improvement after drawing their previous two.

“They are a good side,” Vermiglio said. “They are always the same, quite rugged, organised, know what they are doing.

“They are always very difficult to beat but hopefully the confidence the players have got from the cup will transfer to the league form.”