Alfreton Town 0-2 Chorley

Match report: Alfreton Town 0-2 Chorley

Posted by: Laura Hammond

Tue 30th August 2022

Written by Jacob Hackett

Reds defeated by Magpies.

Alfreton Town suffered their first defeat of the season on Bank Holiday Monday as second half strikes from Jonathan Ustabasi and Ollie Shenton sealed a 2-0 victory for visitors Chorley.

The Magpies started the game in control and saw two efforts saved by George Willis within the opening 15 minutes. Adam Blakeman’s fourth minute free-kick was comfortably pounced on by the Reds’ shot-stopper before Connor Hall’s tight-angled effort forced Willis into conceding a corner.

Momentum swung in the favour of Billy Heath’s side shortly after, but the Reds were unable to capitalise.

Tom Denton glanced his header wide in the 19th minute prior to Dayle Southwell’s tame attempt being saved one minute later following an exquisite Bailey Hobson through ball.

A three minute spell leading up to the half an hour mark saw Hobson’s low-driven shot deflected for a corner and Fraser Preston’s close range effort cleared off the line previous to two more blocked attempts by the latter and George Cantrill.

Denton was replaced by Brad Dockerty in the 39th minute due to injury, forcing the Reds into a change of tactics.

Chorley picked up the tempo towards the end of the half, but neither Billy Whitehouse or Mike Calveley could turn in their attempts before the break.

Hall and Ustabasi spurned chances at the start of the second half for the visitors before a dazing Hobson solo run ended with a blazed shot over the bar after a quick one-two with Southwell in the 66th minute.

Chorley then took the lead 12 minutes later through Ustabasi. The winger took aim from inside the area, and although Willis looked to have saved the initial shot, the ball looped up and over the Reds goalkeeper and into the back of the net to break the deadlock.

The scoring was rounded off in the 90th minute when Chorley doubled their advantage courtesy of substitute Shenton. Mark Sampson’s fledgling attempt hit the post before Ustabasi saw his shot saved into the path of Shenton who finished from close range.