Last season’s top two in the National League North go head to head once again this Saturday, as we face former title-rivals Chorley at Edgeley Park, looking to build on last weekend’s demolition of Torquay United.
That 5-1 victory at Plainmoor last Saturday saw the Hatters take advantage of some teams participation in the Emirates FA Cup to move up to eight in the National League table – just two points shy of Harrogate Town in the final play-off place.
It was also our first ever five-goal haul at National League level, with our previous biggest wins at this level being 4-0 wins over both Lincoln and Bath City at Edgeley Park, back in 2012, also under the management of Jim Gannon.
Victory on Saturday could see County move into those play-off places for the first time since September – although such is the tightness of the League Table at the mid-way point, that defeat could see us sink as low as 14th should other results go against us.
It won’t be easy either, against a Chorley side who rarely roll over when facing the Hatters, and who have recently hit a strong run of form after a disastrous start to the season.
Since we last met:
That 3-0 defeat at Victory Park in September was the Magpies first since promotion in last season’s National League North play-offs, and was the start of that run of five straight defeats for County that saw them drop into the bottom half of the table.
Far from being the catalyst for an upturn in form for Saturday’s visitors however, that maiden win was followed up by a ten-game winless run that saw them rooted to the foot of the table – although six of those games finished as a draw, as Jamie Vermiglio’s men continued to be a tough nut to crack.
A remarkable upturn in recent form since then though, has seen renewed hope of survival spread around the Lancashire town, with three wins from their last four games – and a point at League Leaders Barrow in-between – moving them to within two points of safety.
Much of that recent upturn in from can be attributed to the recent loan signing of striker Charles Vernam from League Two Grimsby Town, with the striker scoring three goals in his first four league appearances for the club, including two in their only away win to date this season – 3-2 at Chesterfield.
Games against Chorley in recent seasons have rarely failed to disappoint when it comes to drama in recent years, a rivalry made all the more intense after last season’s title duel, and Saturday’s game promises to be another huge game for both clubs, albeit two with very different aspirations for the rest of the season.
Match Stats:
- County will be looking to improve upon a record that has seen us win just two of our seven home games against Chorley in all competitions – although those two wins both came last season (3-0 in both the League and FA Trophy).
- Chorley have drawn 11 of their 24 league games so far this season (the most in the division), whilst they have only won four League games to date (the least in the division). They are also the lowest scorers, with just 21 goals scored so far.
- In the form table over the last ten games, County sit fourth in the table, with only Harrogate, Solihull and Barrow having a better record than the Hatters in that time.
- Frank Mulhern now has four goals in his last seven appearances for County, having only scored once this season before that run.
