Chorley secured their place in the next round of the cup competition with a controversial late penalty decision in their match against Warrington Rylands on Saturday. The National League North side were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute after the referee ruled that Max Hunt had been fouled inside the box. Jack Sampson took the initial spot-kick, which was saved by Rylands goalkeeper Luke Pilling, and his follow-up effort struck the underside of the crossbar. Following a scramble in the goalmouth, the referee then awarded a second penalty to Chorley, which Sampson converted to clinch the victory.

The match, played at Chorley’s home ground, was marked by an open and entertaining style, with both teams creating numerous scoring opportunities but failing to convert for most of the game. The contest saw its intensity escalate in the 75th minute when Chorley’s Jack Hazelhurst received a red card for a late and aggressive challenge, reducing his side to ten men.

The second half was punctuated by several contentious moments, reflecting the competitive nature of the fixture. Warrington Rylands remained in contention until the final moments, with their captain Dean Furman coming close to forcing extra time with a long-range effort during stoppage time. Additionally, Adam Caddick nearly equalized with a free-kick that struck the Chorley crossbar in the closing seconds.

Despite the late drama and the numerical disadvantage following Hazelhurst’s dismissal, Chorley managed to hold on and advance in the tournament. The outcome means Chorley will be included in the draw scheduled for the following day, taking their place among the teams progressing further in the competition.