THIS action-packed UniBond First Division basement battle ended all square after the Magpies had looked set to pick up a first away win with a quality goal five minutes from time.

But bottom placed Rocester rescued a point their spirited efforts deserved with an 89th minute penalty.

Chorley had to come from behind twice to go in level at half-time. The home side took the lead after only three minutes when Richard Mitchell, looking well offside, was allowed to go forward and steer the ball past John Gillies.

David Eatock cleverly curled in a free kick to equalise on 13 minutes, but Rocester were back in front three minutes later, again from a free kick, with Martin Ridley hammering a fierce rising drive into the net off the underside of the bar.

Gillies had to move smartly to deny Rocester further chances before Eatock popped up again to put the Magpies level just before the break.

A Paul Carvill centre was played back towards the keeper by a defender but Eatock nipped in to direct a neat back-header over him and into the net.

The match was delicately poised for much of the second half but Chorley began to look the more likely winners once Neil Smith was pushed up into the attack for the last 30 minutes.

He skimmed the bar with a powerful shot and got in two decent headers before finally giving Chorley the lead for the first time.

The lively Eatock got in a great cross from the left and Smith rose to plant a superb header firmly into the net.

But Rocester were not finished and Gillies pulled off a splendid reflex save from the dangerous Mitchell.

With time running out, Ian Callaghan handled the ball as he went up for a cross and Michael Ede dispatched the inevitable penalty.