DANNY Mills was Chorley's unexpected penalty shoot-out saviour at Victory Park last night.

Mills was drafted in as the Magpies' stand-in goalkeeper after Paul Eatock, himself deputising for the unavailable Lee Bracey, was forced to leave the field with concussion during extra time in this Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy second round tie.

It was Mills himself who stepped up to take Chorley's vital fifth spot-kick to level the shoot-out at 4-4. And he capped that by diving to hold the next spot kick from Gary Prosser, leaving ice-cool Chorley defender Lee Pryers to fire the Magpies' into the quarter-finals.

It was third time lucky for Chorley, whose previous two penalty shoot-outs - notably in last season's promotion play-offs final - had ended in heartbreak.

Although this was not one of Chorley's more convincing displays, they were within two minutes of winning in normal time.

After a largely uneventful first half, Kendal went ahead on 53 minutes when Dave Foster netted from eight yards following a corner.

But Chorley fortuitously drew level in the 65th minute after Kendal defender Simon Garner unaccountably nodding Matt Edgington's delivery past his own keeper Lee Ward.

After Ward had saved well from a powerful Mills effort, David Eatock fastened onto a through ball on 71 minutes to hammer the Magpies in front.

But the lead did not look secure as Kendal staged a strong late rally and on 88 minutes substitute Dean Whittall-Williams rose above the defence to head in an free kick at the far post.

Chorley missed four good chances to win the match in extra time, with Mills firing over and substitute Danny Queeley placing a straightforward lob too high with Ward stranded out of goal.

Then, in the dying minute, Edgington worked his way into the box only to shoot straight at Ward and finally the Kendal keeper got down smartly to divert Jamie Vermiglio's low drive to safety.

Mills was not called on to make a save while in goal for the last eight minutes but when put on the spot in the shoot-out he duly delivered.

CHORLEY ...2

KENDAL TOWN ...2

aet, Chorley won 5-4 on penalties