Chorley 0 Radcliffe 1: Magpies undone late on

​The contest was high on endeavour by both teams but short on quality and neither side created many clear-cut chances or shots on target.

Chorley started brightly and put the Radcliffe defence under a period of pressure but they successfully blocked the Magpies’ attempts, with keeper Mateusz Hewelt pulling off one smart save at his near post in flipping Tom Carr’s tight-angled shot on to the top of the net.

Radcliffe gradually grew into the game but were unable to seriously test Matt Urwin in the home goal.

In fact, Urwin did not have to make a difficult save throughout and had no chance with the winning goal.

The Chorley defence seemed slow to react and attempt to close down Scales when he gained possession some 30 yards out and let fly with a thunderous shot which flew into the top corner of the net.

The Magpies hit back to ty to salvage a draw and were desperately unlucky in stoppage time when a left-wing raid produced a low ball across the six-yard box, from which Anjola Popoola’s shot rebounded from the post and was scrambled clear.

Radcliffe saw out the remaining minutes to enhance one of the best away records in the league.

Chorley manager Andy Preece was frustrated at the outcome.

He said: “We didn’t deserve to lose but didn’t do enough to win the game.

“We started well and put them under sustained pressure without creating clear chances against a well-organised defence.

“I can’t complain about the players’ efforts but we just lacked that little bit of quality in the final third.”