BLYTH SPARTANS 1 - CHORLEY 3

THE longest trip of the season ended in Chorley's second away win in the space of four days to hoist them well up the league table.

This game was also a personal triumph for Karl Marginson who bagged a splendid hat-trick at Croft Park to end Blyth's unbeaten home run.

Two goals in 90 seconds around the 30-minute mark set Chorley on their way. Abel, again outstanding as a makeshift striker, laid the ball into the path of Marginson who hammered an unstoppable shot beyond the diving Burridge.

Straight from the restart Abel was brought down in the area and Marginson made no mistake from the penalty spot. Blyth looked stunned by this double blow.

Minutes before the break, a frantic goalmouth scramble ended with Gamble reducing the arrears despite heroic defending from Ward and Marsh in particular.

The Magpies found themselves under considerable second-half pressure but the defence performed superbly aided by some wayward Blyth shooting.

With a quarter of an hour left Chorley and Marginson completed the scoring. Again Abel was involved, delivering an excellent cross from the right, and Marginson came steaming in to head firmly past Burridge.

So, for the second time in four days, Chorley scored three on their travels making it 12 goals in all in the past three games.

The midweek trip to Accrington brought a 3-0 success in an impressive performance. Hit by injuries, Dave Sutton opted to play Graham Abel up front and even the manager must have been surprised at how successful the move was.

After a goalless first half, Abel it broke the deadlock by driving the ball home after Ross had had two shots blocked. Abel then had a hand in the second goal which was sweetly chipped in by Marginson before providing the cross which Ross headed in for number three.

This Saturday Chorley entertain Accrington at Victory Park and next Tuesday travel up the M6 to play Barrow.

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