Northern League: Chorley's double final thrust (2 July 1999)

2 July 1999

Northern League: Chorley's double final thrust

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Third placed Chorley begin the second half of their Northern League programme tomorrow with high hopes of completing a double over Lancaster at Windsor Park.

The Lune Road side have been struggling this season and unchanged Chorley will be aiming to take advantage of any slip up by pace setters Darwen and St Annes.

On Sunday Chorley will be in the bizarre situation of contesting two cup finals at the same time. They will be sending the first XI to Morecambe for the regional final of the National Knockout competition while their hopes of lifting the Vaux Samson Cup in the final at St Annes will rest on the club's second eleven, reinforced by professional Josh Marquet.

Skipper Nigel Heaton commented: "I've been on the phone most of this week but everyone is saying it is not their problem. They seem to expect us to be in two places at once and we are just doing our best to be so. But we are all absolutely fed up about the whole messy business."

Gary Jackson, who hit a half century for the seconds last weekend, returns to the Darwen side for tomorrow's Vaux Northern League game away to mid-table Kendal.

Jackson takes over from 15-year-old John Cordingley who is given a well-earned break from first team pressures.

The Birch Hall men start the second half of their league programme just three points clear of St Annes at the top of the table, their challengers having cashed in on Darwen's recent frustrations with the weather to narrow the gap.

Biggest threat to Darwen's hopes of victory tomorrow will probably be presented by former Nelson professional Terry Hunte.

The Kendal amateur is in top form at the moment, having notched a half century for Cumbria in the NatWest Trophy and a ton for his club in the league.

Source :: The Lancashire Evening Telegraph