Free weekend gives Chorley stars chance to rest and recover after hectic schedule

It has certainly been a hectic schedule for the Magpies over the past few weeks and boss Jamie Vermiglio welcomed the break which will see his men not take to the field again until the derby encounter against AFC Fylde at Victory Park on Boxing Day.

The players have put in a monumental effort over the past six weeks or so, which has seen them enjoy a nine-match unbeaten run.

That has seen the team rise from the bottom of the National League North to a mid-table spot, as well as famously winning through to the third round of the FA Cup after victories over League One opposition Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United.

Unfortunately all good things do come to an end at some stage and the Magpies exited the FA Trophy when a youthful looking team were beaten 2-0 at Guiseley on Tuesday night.

Their defeat at Nethermoor Park means it is the Lions who will travel to Stockport County this weekend in the third round of the competition. Vermiglio said: “I think recovery is important for our players and we are certainly going to utilise.

“We are looking at giving them the weekend off and I am sure the players will be fighting to have the weekend off.

“We wanted to win against Guiseley but to have tomorrow off, with the games which are coming thick and fast, there are certainly some positives to take from that.

“I think we are going to try to utilise that to freshen up our bodies and our minds a little bit.”

Vermiglio certainly rang the changes against Guiseley when only six players – goalkeeper Matty Urwin, Harvey smith, Will Tomlinson, Mike Calveley, Lewis Baines and Connor Hall – remained in the starting XI from the one which took to the field in the 1-1 draw at Alfreton on Saturday.

In came Adam Henley, Tyler Garratt, Oliver Putnam, Sewa Marah and Malakai McKenzie as Chorley were beaten courtesy of goals from Kaine Felix and Adam Haw.

“You want to win every game of football and we set our stall out to come to Guiseley and win,” said Vermiglio.

“We made a lot of changes for a variety of reasons – mainly the consecutive run of games that we have had.

“The players have played a lot of 90 minutes and with the greatest respect to the Trophy and Guiseley, the competition was not a priority for us.

“We are putting together a bit of a run in the league and doing quite well in the FA Cup.

“It was a good opportunity for us to have a little look at a few other players and get 90 minutes into a few.

“We used it as that but we are disappointed because in all honesty we could have won the game.”