FC Queens Park 2-2 Chirk Town: Chirk fight-back twice to secure opening day draw
FC Queens Park and Chirk Town shared the spoils on the opening day of the North East Wales Football League in a pulsating 90 minutes at The Dunks.
Niall Challoner opened the scoring for ‘Park’ in the 41st minute following good work by Barry Torrence. Chirk Town captain Tristan Lloyd levelled proceedings from the penalty spot just after the restart following a tackle made on Aaron Davies.
It was that man Challoner who restored FC Queens Park’s advantage in the 72nd minute following a flick-on from a goal kick and he made no mistake passed the oncoming Callum Taylor. Chirk Town got a point they probably deserved right at the death as substitute Jamie Williams equalised in the 88th minute with a header from a corner.
Overall, both teams will say they could have won and both teams will say they could have lost, on the balance of play a draw is a fair result based on chances and possession of the football.
It was Chirk Town who settled down and were comfortable in knocking the football about, however, the first real opportunity of the match, saw a long ball played out from the back, hoping to catch the FC Queens Park defence napping but fortunately ‘Park’ keeper Joey Jones was on hand to thwart any danger.
Chirk Town thought they took the lead in the 10th minute when following a free-kick, Matthew Cooke hit a good effort which Joey Jones saved and the rebound fell to the onrushing Aaron Davies who tapped into an empty net but the referee was on hand to rightly call offside.
FC Queens Park had their first real serious effort on goal around the halfway point of the first half when a Tony Jones free-kick was met by the dangerous Barry Torrence but he nodded his effort just passed the post
Torrence was starting to have more of an influence on the match now and a nice one-two with Niall Challoner saw him have space around 30 yards out in which he flashed an effort wide.
It was just before halftime when the deadlock was broken and it was that man Torrence who latched onto a long ball out from the back and he weaved his way into the box before putting it onto a plate for Niall Cahlloner to slam home.
Chirk Town may have felt a little deflated at halftime as 1-0 they probably didn’t deserve on the balance of play but at the start of the second half, they got right back into it with a penalty kick from Tristan Lloyd after Aaron Davies was felled in the box. FC Queens Park can have no complaints with the decision and Lloyd did the damage from 12 yards by placing the ball to the keeper’s left-hand side.
Josh Williams who was a big influence for Chirk Town, had to be replaced following a tackle with Park’s Curtis Neary, Josh was replaced by his brother Jamie Williams.
It was just after this moment, that FC Queens Park captain Curtis Neary had a great opportunity to give his side the lead as the ball broke free for him and he travelled unopposed to the edge of the box but unfortunately his shot was a tame one and went straight into the arms of Callum Taylor.
Queens Park did take their next chance and it was that man Niall Challoner again. Challoner latched on to a flick-on from Barry Torrence and found himself one on one with the keeper and he made no mistake with a lovely curling finish.
Chirk Town attempted an immediate response with Tristan Lloyd in the thick of things but he had an effort wide of the post, following a good interchange of passing.
FC Queens Park made a substitution and 2 goal hero Challoner was replaced by Callum Williams. Following the sub, it was nearly 3-1 as Barry Torrence again connected to a great ball in from Tony Jones but could only direct his header just wide of the post.
That gave Chirk Town some impetus and with minutes to go, they got an equaliser following a corner. The ball was floated in and was headed on by a Chirk Town attacker before Jamie Williams was on hand to nod in at the near post.
From the kickoff, Chirk Town will be wondering how they haven’t scored and won the game, FC Queens Park played a bobbly back pass to keeper Joey Jones who took a heavy touch and let in Jamie Williams, his first time shot was blocked and then Naz Farhat who had earlier came on as a sub had an effort blocked as well with FC Queens Park eventually clearing their lines.
Following the melee, Joey Jones seemed to take a knock and with FC Queens Park having already made three subs, it was star man Barry Torrence having to don the gloves for the final few minutes.
One final corner for Chirk Town in the final few seconds but FC Queens Park managed to deal with it effectively and cleared the ball upfield.
FC Queens Park: Joey Jones, Callum Roberts, Darren Gallop, Tony Jones, Charlie Rowley, Niall Martin, Adam Roberts (Nathan Brookfield 80), Curtis Neary (c), Niall Challoner (Callum Williams 76), Barry Torrence, Daniel McGinnis (James Gregory 54)
Goals: Niall Challoner 41, 72
Chirk Town FC: Callum Taylor, Jonathan Mitchell, Brian Wood, Steve Roberts, Caleb Davies (Naz Farhat 72), Tristan Lloyd, Matthew Cooke (c), Jordan Dooley, Josh Williams (Jamie Williams 56), Joseph Doyle-Davies, Aaron Davies
Goals: Tristan Lloyd 55, Jamie Williams 88.
