Chorley trampled by lowly Ossett ... (From The Bolton News)

Chorley trampled by lowly Ossett ...

OSSETT TOWN 3 CHORLEY 0 A QUITE dreadful display by Chorley saw the Magpies comprehensively beaten by lowly Ossett Town on Saturday.

Ossett have thus scored six times against Chorley in the two meetings this season - a thoroughly depressing statistic.

The Magpies' performance was not the only awful aspect of the game - the referee made many controversial decisions and the pitch was unacceptable for this level of football.

Chorley started the better on the "ploughed field" with Potts and Evans going close in the early stages but cohesive football was a virtual impossibility.

The Magpies, having had one penalty appeal turned down, were given a great chance to take the lead on the half-hour when Ossett keeper Scargill tripped Potts in the box.

The referee initially waved the appeals aside, but his linesman had no doubt and a spot kick it was - Fleming, though, wasted the opportunity, firing wide.

Instead of being a goal to the good, the Magpies quickly found themselves one down as Ossett celebrated their let-off by going in front.

A wayward pass by Critchley gifted the ball to Shaw who burst through to shoot past Marsh.

Minutes later the home side made it two when Fuller out-jumped Simms to head in a right wing cross and Chorley were left with it all to do.

Unfortunately they never looked like doing it! Once again the midfield lack of creativity was glaringly obvious as, despite a fair amount of possession, they rarely troubled Scargill.

The belated introduction of Barker and Mitchell made little difference and with 15 minutes left Ossett made absolutely certain when, not for the first time, the ponderous Hill was caught out and Jackson calmly shot past the exposed Marsh.

Barker squandered a late chance with only Scargill to beat but it would have been scant consolation for the seething Chorley fans who voiced their fury at manager Ken Wright and his players.

An injection of new blood is urgently required - this simply will not do.

Perhaps luckily, Chorley are without a game this weekend, their scheduled home clash with Workington having been called off because of the Scotland v England match.

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