Heartbreak for Chaddy

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: 

BRAVE Chadderton’s impressive season came crashing to a dramatic halt last night.

Chaddy lost their North-West Counties League First Division play-off semi-final against AFC Darwen 2-1 - despite a rosy outlook at half-time when they led 1-0 thanks to youngster Adam Turner’s cracking strike from 25 yards.

Darwen equalised on the hour before Anthony Lynch booked the hosts’ promotion play-off final against Hanley Town five minutes from the end.

It was a sad way to see promotion dreams end so late in a one-off shoot-out, but Chaddy joint-boss Steve Patterson was proud of his players: “The lads are devastated, of course, but we’ve had a great season overall and it's been an incredible achievement to get this close.

“It was looking good for us at half-time, but once Darwen equalised they had the momentum with them and we'd run out of a bit of steam. Every player has really stepped up this season, though, and we can all take so much away from this experience and learn lessons.

“This club has got new fuel now. We've got to get better next season so as not to be experiencing this feeling again this time next year.”

Even after Darwen had equalised, Chaddy had chances to win the tie. James Curley missed a one-on-one

opportunity as he charged towards goal before blazing over, while the normally-lethal Niall Sultan also went close.