Crying out for a new boss

After the boost of the previous week's win at Hyde, it was back to normal for Chorley on Saturday when bogey side Blyth took the points against a punchless Magpies' outfit.

The Magpies rarely threatened the visitors' goal and Blyth keeper Burke would have had to play like one not to have kept a clean sheet against the toothless home team.

New loan signing Mark Ceraola from Morecambe was subdued and Blyth's strong defence never looked like being breached.

Indeed it was difficult to understand how, in their previous two outings, Blyth had lost to Chorley's fellow strugglers Accrington and Spennymoor.

The Magpies looked like a team crying out for a new manager and the sooner new blood is brought in the better. Lining up with five at the back and just Black and Ceraola up front was hardly likely to inspire much hope in the home fans and seemed overly defensive for a game that Chorley desperately needed to win.

Ceraola produced a blistering early run that almost brought a goal and later floated a delicate chip inches too high but overall he and Black were comfortably controlled by the visitors' defence.

To be fair there was little anyone could do about the two Blyth goals. The first, after 26 minutes, came when Dullaghan was outwitted by the pacy Edgecumbe who pulled the ball back to Moat whose fierce shot was unwittingly deflected past the helpless Marsh by Paul Jones.

The second eight minutes after the break was a real screamer from Hunter who gave Marsh absolutely no chance with a thunderous 25 yard drive after Quick had headed out Lumsden's free kick.

Considering the importance of the fixtures in the Magpies' relegation scrap there was little passion about their play with too many players too often on the fringe of things. Potts had a frustrating afternoon while Grimshaw was anonymous and the two strikers received little service to work with.

When they did gain possession, they proved too lightweight for Hyson and his fellow defenders and there was rarely any hope of Chorley's dismal home record - they now have not won at Victory park since mid-November - being improved.

With 11 games to go - only four at home, although that is perhaps no bad thing - relegation is looking increasingly likely though defeats on Saturday for Accrington, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland mean that Chorley still have a chance particularly if the new manager can somehow galvanise them.

The Magpies' last chance of any silverware this season disappeared with the 2 - 0 midweek defeat at Accrington in the League Cup replay - at least now they can concentrate on the league!

This Saturday Magpies entertain another North East side when Gateshead come to Victory Park.

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