Chorley: Player Spotlight

It’s been a tough journey for Billy Heath’s side – yet the team reached stellar form at the vital point of the season. For their reward, they secured a play-off position in a convincing 3-0 victory against Curzon Ashton last Saturday.

People would be wrong however to assume the Shaymen will take their foot off the gas away at Chorley on Saturday. Play-Off status may be confirmed but there’s still a chance Town can leapfrog Kidderminster Harriers and end the campaign in second place.

This would play an important factor in the play-off scheduling – 2^nd place will face 5^th (3^rd vs 4^th).

Our opponents on Saturday will also be in full pursuit of a play-off position after Darlington’s appeal was rejected, therefore despite the Magpies currently placed in 6^th place they occupy provisional fifth and Salford City move up to third.

Chorley and Salford will be keeping an eye on Stockport’s result against Gloucester City, as victory for them on the final day may cause further re-ordering of the league standings at the top of the table.

Skipper Dale Whitham will lead the team out on Saturday on the back of five games without a defeat. The box-to-box midfielder has been a key component of the Chorley side, amassing 38 appearances this season and over 100 in total (stats taken from 2014-present) since joining in 2010.

Whitham netted a vital equalizer last time out against Gloucester City, his ninth of the campaign.  He found himself on the score-sheet at the MBI Shay back in January in Town’s 2-1 victory.

The away side caused a tense final minute after Whitham latched onto a cross and headed home, resulting in Heath and the team to hold a tight defensive line to hold onto the lead, even throwing Tom Denton on for duties in his own penalty area.

Whitham suffered play-off disappointment in 2014-15 in gruelling circumstances. After leading Guiseley by two goals at the interval, the visitors came back with three second half goals to secure a place in the Vanarama National League for next season.

Chorley failed to reach the play-offs last season, so will be doing all they can at Victory Park to sneak into the play-off places.

Follow all the action of the Shaymen’s final game of the season on our social media platforms, as well as live audio commentary on Shaymen Player HD.

Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist