CHORLEY came from behind to embarrass Conference high-flyers Morecambe with a stunning victory in the second round of the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy at Christie Park last night.
The Shrimps manager Jim Harvey's gamble in resting half his regular first-teamers ahead of Saturday's important FA Trophy trip to Yeovil backfired as the Magpies hit Morecambe with three quickfire strikes in a dazzling ten-minute spell in the final quarter of an entertaining match.
A goalless first half saw escapes at both ends, with Robbie Talbot twice going close for Morecambe and Darren Emmett on two occasions narrowly failing to beat the home keeper with crafty efforts from long range. The nearest to a goal, however, was the tricky Dave Perkins who finished off a great run with a shot against the post which had Chorley keeper Lee Bracey beaten.
Bracey then did particularly well to keep out a rocket shot from Nick Rogan.
A superb goal put Morecambe ahead on 55 minutes, Perkins threading a lovely pass through to Rogan who glided past Bracey to finish in style.
The Chorley cause was not helped by the loss of striker Lee Wilkinson, injured in a collision with the keeper, but they battled on and turned the game on its head with two goals in as many minutes.
Andy Mason's cross after 71 minutes was expertly controlled by the impressive Stuart Tulloch who promptly volleyed the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.
Then ex-Magpie Dave McKearney was left red-faced when, attempting to bring the ball out of defence, he was dispossessed by opportunist Joe Murray who strode into the box before coolly slipping the ball under the advancing keeper.
With Chorley now very much on song, substitutes Michael Brandon and Lee Molyneux had successive shots kicked off the Morecambe goal-line before the Shrimps' fate was sealed on 81 minutes, Emmett playing in Mason who cleverly and unerringly chipped the helpless keeper.
As Chorley finished in complete control, Mason was inches away from repeating the trick in the last minute.
A magnificent night for Chorley who must now fancy their chances of at least making the semi-finals courtesy of a home tie against NWCL second division side Blackpool Mechanics in the quarter final next Tuesday.
MORECAMBE...1 CHORLEY...3
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