A stirring second-half fightback earned Chorley a well-deserved point against promotion-chasing Cammell Laird in a hard-fought, always entertaining encounter.

The lively visitors dominated the opening period and it was no surprise when centre-back Lee Atherton ghosted in to glance a header past Scott Ball, the Magpies' eleventh keeper of the season, in the 17th minute.

Chorley did well to restrict Laird to a single goal before the break, the nearest the home side came to hitting back being a Jon Kennedy free-kick, which swerved into the side-net.

The Magpies lost defender Steve Williams with a groin strain at the interval, but James Mullineux stepped in with an aggressive display , which typified the whole team's approach to the second half.

Jordan Goodeve was desperately unlucky when he spotted keeper Craig Bryan way off his line and measured a well-flighted lob, which bounced behind off the crossbar.

At the other end, Ian Cooke was left clear from Bryan's long punt but lifted his lob too high.

Then Ball raced out to rescue the Magpies with a brave save at Cooke's feet.

But in the closing stages it was Chorley who found an extra gear and a double substitution by manager Gerry Luczka finally did the trick with ten minutes left.

Moments after coming on, Adam Roscoe struck gold, rising above the visitors' defence to power home a superb header from Kennedy's inviting free kick.

It was the least Chorley deserved for a display full of tenacity and character against a well-drilled side who had threatened to spoil the day for guests of the club Charlie Cooper and John Brady, two of Chorley's heroes in the epic FA Cup triumph over Wolves twenty years ago.