CHORLEY'S bid to pull clear of the UniBond First Division basement suffered another setback when the Magpies failed to put away several easy chances in this physical encounter.

The Magpies had created three scoring opportunites without the quality finish before a ball lofted over the home defence on 27 minutes was not pursued by Matty Woods. Goalkeeper John Gillies raced out to head clear but misjudged the bounce and his flick-header left Simon Roach to steer his shot into an empty net - yet another in a recent catalogue of soft goals conceded by the Magpies.

The introduction of substitute David Eatock gave the team better shape but Eatock himself, together with Neil Smith and Daniel Douglas-Pringle, was guilty of failing to get the ball past the keeper from clear positions at short range.

Chorley's equaliser finally arrived four minutes into the second half when Richard Fogarty's well-flighted cross beyond the far post was neatly headed back by Andy Haworth for Douglas-Pringle to sweep into the net.

A clever free-kick by Jamie Price forced the Brigg keeper to tip the ball over the bar before the Magpies had a scare, as Gillies rushed out to deal with an under-hit back pass and saw his clearance rebound off the challenging Roach and bounce just outside the upright.

Douglas-Pringle squandered another clear opening from Eatock's excellent through-ball as the Magpies strove vainly for the winner.

Brigg's beefy tackling finally brought a dismissal when defender Jamie Waltham was shown a straight red for a particularly nasty tackle in the dying minutes.

This was Chorley's fourth successive draw but with their plight becoming ever more pressing it is wins they desperately need.

UniBond First Division