Peterborough 1-2 Chorley: Part-timers stun League One side in FA Cup shock
- Published
National League North side Chorley shocked League One Peterborough with a magical FA Cup turnaround at London Road to make it into the third round.
Connor Hall grabbed an equaliser for the visitors on the hour mark, capitalising on some flat footed Peterborough defending.
And two minutes later Lewis Baines finished off a smart corner routine to complete a famous upset for the team who are second from bottom in the sixth tier.
Jack Taylor had smashed Posh in front inside two minutes, volleying home a loose ball following a corner, but they ended up going out to a side 89 places below them in the English football pyramid.
Chorley's Harry Cardwell could have made it 3-1, but his penalty was saved by Posh keeper Christy Pym after Mark Beevers hauled down the forward in the area.
However, the part-timers held on to produce a famous shock over Darren Ferguson's side.
Another giant-killing
Chorley - who shocked former winners Wigan Athletic 3-2 after extra time in the first round - came into this tie having never progressed beyond the FA Cup second round.
The Lancashire outfit had only ever beaten Football League opposition in the cup three times in their history (most famously Wolves in a second replay at Burnden Park, Bolton in 1986), while Peterborough had advanced to the third round 13 times from their last 14 campaigns.
But, despite conceding inside 120 seconds against a Posh side who made just one change from their last league fixture, Chorley were always in the game, twice hitting the woodwork in the first half.
Forward Cardwell struck the right post in the 27th minute, with a fierce strike on the half-turn. And winger Elliot Newby rattled the left upright moments before the break after a superb individual run.
Managed by head teacher Jamie Vermiglio, the part-timers outperformed their opposition and deservedly went in front in the second half.
The hosts, second in League One, created few chances late on despite getting a lifeline after Cardwell's missed spot-kick.
Siriki Dembele forcing a fine save from Chorley keeper Matthew Urwin deep into injury time was the only response of note, as Chorley held on to make it into Monday's draw and guarantee a non-league club in the third round.
Watch 13 FA Cup second-round games on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app this weekend. Find out more here.