Chorley break club record in qualifying for the FA Cup 3rd round as they stun League One high flyers Peterborough United.

What a night to remember at the Weston Homes Stadium in Peterborough on Saturday evening as spirited National League North side Chorley FC defied the odds to pull off the shock of the round and knock out the highest-ranked club in the competition to this point.

A fabulous performance from Jamie Vermiglio’s men confirmed that they will be in the hat for the first time in their 137 year history with a well-deserved win over Darren Ferguson’s men. Having missed a penalty and hit the woodwork twice in the first half, the manner of the win could have been far more conclusive on another evening.

Comeback specialists from their win at Wigan in the last round, Chorley had raised the bar of the challenge in the opening minutes of the game. Peterborough gave Darren Ferguson the perfect start in dampening any enthusiasm from The Magpies as Ryan Broom’s deep corner picked out Blake-Tracey at the back post.

As his header ricocheted off the back of a Chorley defender,  Republic of Ireland international Jack Taylor smashed the ball home, on the half volley and into the roof of the net, from about 15 yards out. It was barely the start that the Lancashire club wanted with just two minutes registered on the scoreboard.

With an early goal providing the wind beneath Peterborough’s sails, It was the star of their midweek win, Siriki Dembele, who looked to put the game further out of Chorley’s reach and build on Posh’s early hammer blow. Simon Szmodics should have done better when he was presented with a good opportunity just outside of the box, but he fired well over following some inventive skill and running from the diminutive midfielder.

Whilst Chorley were feeling their way into proceedings and were happy to let Posh have the ball, they steadily grew in confidence and sprang into life from the 20-minute mark.  Striker Harry Cardwell was proving too hot to handle for the Posh defence, winning a string of flick-ons as he began to hold the ball up top with some classic centre forward play. 

On this evidence, Cardwell looked a player that would be more than capable of mixing it in the professional game. The big striker came so close to equalising on 27 minutes with a turn and shot just inside the box that crashed off the post following Lewis Baines ball into him. Keeper Christian Pym had certainly gotten away with it as he looked helplessly on, rooted to the spot.

Without top scorer, Jonson Harris-Clarke and winger Joe Ward missing from Boro’s line-up, Chorley’s three centre backs steadily grew in confidence and looking resolute as a collective, the Magpies further improved. 

Connor Newby took it upon himself to almost score the goal of the round as his waltzing run from inside his own half, left a trail of Posh defenders in his wake, but his curling effort from the edge of the box hit the woodwork, with Pym well beaten again. Chorley boss Jamie Vermiglio must’ve been wondering what his side would need to do to get a goal going into the half time break.

Thankfully for him, his player’s heads didn’t drop and a quiet start to the second half frustrated Darren Ferguson on the Posh touchline. Annoyed with his players that they continued to cheaply concede possession, Peterborough eventually paid the price on the hour mark.

Latching onto Lewis Baines’ pass inside the box, Chorley’s hero from the previous round, Connor Halls, wriggled enough space past Beevers to squeeze a left-footed shot past Pym’s for the equaliser. 

The magic of the cup was well and truly alive and just three minutes later, the drama of the tie went into overdrive. Posh failed to deal with Hall’s knockdown from Newby’s corner and as the ball fell to left-back Lewis Baines, he turned to hit a right-footed shot into the net as the Magpies mobbed together on the far touchline in absolute dreamland.

A huge sucker punch had been dealt by the non-league minnows. A response was needed from Posh but inexplicably, they continued to surrender possession cheaply and further sloppiness almost cost them dearly on 77 minutes as skipper Mark Beevers hauled Cardwell down in the box to concede a penalty.

It was an unnecessary error as Posh’s evening went from bad to worse and provided Chorley with a golden opportunity to wrap the contest up. Thankfully for Posh, Christian Pym made an excellent save from Cardwell’s penalty, guessing correctly to palm the ball away to safety.

There was still no response forthcoming from the home side and with Chorley still refusing to let their heads drop, only a superb intervention from Mark Beevers, prevented Hall breaking through their backline.

As Chorley inevitably retreated deeper into their own half, hanging onto their slender lead, Peterborough still struggled to muster any decisive pressure with Chorley’s three-man defence happy to sweep up any hopeful punts into the box. Siriki Dembele almost inflicted a sting in the tail at the death, as he drifted past his marker and moved into the box only to see his effort well saved by Urwin.

 It was all too little too late from a Posh perspective and the celebrations on the referee’s final whistle will live long in the memory of those who were there to witness it. Chorley were fully deserved winners as the minnows now looking for a more prestigious tie.

Chorley players in celebration after beating Peterborough. Image: Getty images

Posh manager Darren Ferguson was understandably very unhappy with his player’s performance but reserved praise for Vermiglio’s men.

“We can have no complaints. We were second best all over the pitch and should have lost by more. It was an unacceptable performance. In cup matches, you can lose to a deflection or the only shot on goal, that wasn’t the case today.

“Clearly, I need to look at it, analyse it and find some solutions because this club should never be putting in performances like that. Credit to Chorley, I hope they get a big Premier League team away, they deserve it.”

As the celebrations continued after the game, with Chorley players fully enjoying themselves in their makeshift dressing room below, manager Jamie Vermiglio was proud as punch with his side’s heroics.

“It’s a monumental achievement that we can treasure and I’m a very proud man. It wasn’t lucky either. What a performance we produced after going behind so early on.

“Technically we were good, tactically we were good and the set-pieces were absolutely on point, but we also had the heart, spirit and endeavour you need to get through an FA Cup tie in abundance.

“The boys have written themselves a piece of history that no-one can ever take away and it’s fantastic after what we’ve been through as a club over the last 12 months.”

Adele? Adele.. pic.twitter.com/jMgFT3u740

— Chorley FC (@chorleyfc) November 28, 2020

Chorley finds themselves in the hat on Monday evening with Vermiglio dreaming of a top-six draw and with the heroics so far, who’s to say that they can’t go on to claim another scalp in the next round.

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