Is this the way for a hat-trick, Perrow?

Chorley 1-5 Willenhall Town

By Martyn Simpson

Chorley’s 1986 3-0 hammering of Wolves is now a distant memory, and the Lancashire town is these days more famous for references made to it by comedian Peter Kay in the hit TV series Phoenix Nights.

Willenhall’s 5-1 thumping of the Unibond League outfit was as comprehensive as they come, with the Reds dominating from the first minute to the last. With a squad of just 13 players, it didn’t look good for the visitors when Craig Slater was carried off within 30 seconds of kick off.

However, Willenhall rolled their sleeves up and dug in, and were good value for their 11^th minute lead, courtesy of Dean Perrow’s deft header into the far corner. It was Perrow who doubled the Reds tally on 34, running onto a Scott Voice through ball, rounding the keeper and finishing with his left foot from close range.

Moments before the interval, Jamie Petty added a third with a ferocious opportunist strike from 40 yards, which bought even the most ardent Magpies supporter to their feet in admiration.

There was no let up after the break, as long range efforts from Voice and Mark Swann tested the out-of-sorts home defence, before a moment of madness saw star performer Perrow clinch a “perfect” hat-trick. The Chorley keeper made a horrendous error of judgement to come racing to the edge of the box to challenge Perrow. The nippy sharpshooter got the better of him, and even with several Chorley defenders in the six yard box, a magnificent right footed lob from a difficult angle found the roof of the net.

The home side did manage to reduce the arrears with a smartly struck free kick, but Willenhall weren’t done yet. A defence splitting pass from Voice set Nathan Jones free, but he was crudely felled in the box. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick, and it was Jones who stepped up to complete the rout.

Reds assistant manager Larry Chambers said, “It was a good workout for us, and I’m pleased with the result but we’re not getting carried away.”

Line up: Shiels; Slater (Jones 1), Heaney, Petty; Derry, Swann, Rowe, Danks, Bradley; Perrow (Brady 74) Voice