Needham Market ended on the harsh end of a 1-0 defeat at Chorley with clear cut chances at a premium.
Kevin Horlock's side started with Luke Ingram and Josh Tomlinson replacing Reggie Lambe on international duty and Tommy Smith (injured) from the league win over South Shields, with Tomlinson and Keiran Morphew starting in place of Smith and Dan Morphew the 2 changes from Tuesday's Suffolk Premier Cup win.
The Marketmen held their own, with some brilliant defending keeping the home side at bay - while the Marketmen will feel they could've returned home with a point.
The home side had the ball in the net in the fifth minute, but was ruled out for offside as George Horbury found the net from close range.
Warren Clarke however saw a 30-yard low shot well blocked by Needham captain Keiran Morphew two minutes later, while Jake Dye's first time through-ball towards Adam Mills saw the latter cannon the 'keeper's clearance just over for a goal-kick after 10 minutes.
The Marketmen then saw a long ball towards Jacob Lay well defended, before Marcus Garnham's long ball forward picked out Jamie McGrath who smartly turned before looking to thread Luke Ingram through on goal, but the pass ran ahead of the forward - through to the keeper on 14 minutes.
The Marketmen though had the first major chance a minute later, drawing a good save out of goalkeeper Matt Urwin. Great play from the visitors saw Tevan Allen find McGrath, who in turn quickly found Ingram in space to shoot - whose 30-yard powerful shot across goal was punched behind by the goalkeeper.
The resulting corner was put behind for another set-piece, which saw Jamie McGrath head agonisingly just wide at the back post.
At the other end, Marcus Garnham was on hand to deny the Magpies in the 21st minute. The ball broke to Mike Calveley outside the box, arrowing a shot towards Garnham's far, right-hand, post which was parried away smartly by the stopper with Josh Tomlinson on hand to divert an effort on the rebound behind for a corner.
Jacob Lay however earned Needham a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the box, although Allen's curling effort after a quick one-two went wide after 25 minutes.
Urwin then just beat Mills to a long ball forward, before Horbury forced another strong save out of Garnham on 28 minutes. The shot-stopper this time stuck out a strong hand, down to his right-hand side, to thwart the 30-yard strike.
A superb reflex save from Garnham again denied the hosts on the half-hour mark, after quick passes inside the penalty area saw Momodou Touray fed in space to shoot, the striker's shot was denied by the legs of Garnham.
Mark Ellis, albeit in an offside position, headed over from close range 3 minutes later, before a moment of misjudgment from Garnham saw Chorley awarded an in-direct free-kick just inside the box.
The home side made it count, scoring what proved to be the match-winner ten minutes before the interval, as Adam Blakeman teed up Craig Hewitt to lash home into the bottom left-hand corner.
Touray however shot comfortably wide from distance on 39 minutes, before Garnham dived down well to again keep out a low shot with his legs two minutes later.
Soon after the restart, another excellent save from Garnham ensured the scoreline would remain at 1-0 on 49 minutes, as Blakeman's left wing corner saw Ellis' far post header well smothered by the diving Garnham, while Mills was well placed to head away the rebound.
Eze meanwhile saw a tame shot comfortably held by Garnham, before Needham arguably had the better of the chances in the second half.
Neat passing play from the Marketmen saw Ingram fed into space inside the box before cutting the ball back to Allen who saw two shots blocked from close range as the hosts scrambled the ball clear on 51 minutes.
Ben Hunter meanwhile saw a thunderous shot blocked by Calveley just outside the box three minutes later, followed by Horbury volleying a shot high and out of the ground at the other end, on 57 minutes.
Horlock's side introduced Ipswich Town loanee Nico Valentine in place of Mills, with some brilliant defending from the Suffolk side preventing a second Chorley goal on 63 minutes.
A free-kick found Scott Wilson, the latter's far post shot across goal though sad tipped away superbly by Garnham, while the cutback to Eze saw the Bolton loanee's shot brilliantly blocked by Northampton Town loanee Tomlinson, denying a certain goal.
Whole Tomlinson was cautioned for a push, Allen's dangerous right wing corner evaded all Navy Blue shirts in the area, although Ben Hunter's cross back in towards 2 visiting players was well claimed by Urwin at his far post on 69 minutes.
McGrath then wade way for Chambers, before Ollie Fraser replaced Lay, which were sandwiched between a routine save for Garnham, who collected a tame shot from 20-yards out on 74 minutes.
The game sparked more into life in the final ten minutes, Blakeman's left wing corner again found Ellis who headed wide at the near post after 81 minutes, while Hammond's peach of a cross was tipped behind by Urwin - guarding his far post two minutes later.
The Marketmen went agonisingly close to earning an arguably deserved point on 87 minutes, Allen's neat flick towards the bottom far, right-hand, corner was met by the arriving Valentine whose shot on target somehow stayed out off the left-hand post.
The visitors again were ruing their luck in the final minute of four added minutes, Ben Hunter's long ball saw Jake Dye's ball back across the box find Valentine a yard out only to see his shot well saved by Urwin at his near post.
Needham return to the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields on Saturday (19th), at home to Kidderminster Harriers (3pm).
Click the following link to read Manager Kevin Horlock and Nico Valentine's thoughts on today's defeat:- https://needhammarketfc2021-22endofseason.blogspot.com/2024/10/Chorley-a-oct2024-reaction.html
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