Chorley had long been on my list of grounds to visit in Lancashire, being one of the grounds which would have been faily accessibly in my university days in Liverpool. I never made it to Victory Park back then. I do recall a 2007 game at Cantilever Park between Warrington and Chorley in the NWCL, when the visitors did everything but score, and came away with a goalless draw for their efforts.
From Sheffield, Chorley was fairly straightforward, involving a train across to Manchester before taking a First train north from Piccadilly. For once, the ground was conveniently located close to the station, barely a 10 minute walk I discovered. This was a pleasant change from the long walks to Liversedge and Gresley! I instantly liked Victory Park, for a start, the brick walls round the turnstiles were painted in club colours, with the club name painted outside. The ground was set back from the turnstiles, and had a seated main stand on the far long side, with sheltered terraces at either end behind the goals. The terraces to my right went back a long way - possibly 15-20 deep, and gave an excellent view of the ground, and the impressive looking main stand.
The match pretty much conformed with my expectations based on league positions. Matlock were safe in a lower mid table position, while Chorley stood in mid-table, outside the playoffs and unlikely to get there. The first half was rough and direct, with late tackles flying in all over the pitch. Matlock had some skilful players, particularly 9 & 11, who caused the Chorley defence some difficulties. There were no real chances of note, and the most significant incident was a squaring up of players after a particularly brash and reckless challenge. These were two fairly evenly matched sides, and it had a draw written all over it - as well as several bookings and red cards!
The second half saw more opportunities, with Chorley hitting the side netting with a free kick, before a Matlock free kick at the other end looped dangerously onto the crossbar. The game was increasingly fractured by free kicks (given legitimately I have to say) and poor passing, with the entertainment provided by heckling of the Matlock goalkeeper by the home crowd. This was heading for a draw until the 88th minute, when the Chorley striker took the ball out to the right, before swiping his foot through the ball, which flew into the top corner of the Matlock goal. All the booing of Matlock was forgotten as the home fans celebrated a win in what was a bruising mid-table encounter. Back to the train station for me to catch the 17.24 train to Manchester - it made a comfortable change to have a straightforward journey between the ground and station. A ground in Lancashire ticked off too - that was the first one in a while!
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