THE Magpies' miserable run continued against fellow-strugglers Gretna last night as they went down to the only goal of the game for the third time in consecutive UniBond First Division matches.

Chorley have now gone eight league games without a win and in this sequence they have found the net just three times.

In a poor first-half display, they fell behind after 31 minutes and it was something of a gift goal for experienced striker Mark Dobie.

In attempting to clear a cross from Matt Henney on the right, Mark Schofield made no contact with the ball and Dobie was on the spot to fire comprehensively past Simon Marsh.

David Lowe put in a good effort for Chorley in reply but keeper David Mathieson turned the shot for an unproductive corner.

There was still time before the break for Dobie twice to shoot wide as Gretna finished the half deservedly in front.

The introduction of Neil Mitchell for the second half brought some improvement but the Magpies were unable to translate a greater share of possession into clear-cut scoring chances.

A flurry of Chorley corners came to nothing and the greater threat was again at the other end where Marsh had to dive to turn another likely Dobie shot for a corner.

As the Magpies continued to search for an equaliser both Lowe and Andy Mason had shots deflected by a hard-working Gretna defence who repeatedly denied Chorley a real sight of goal.

This was the Magpies' tenth league defeat in a troubled season which is currently going from bad to worse.

A change of direction is urgently required, otherwise relegation will soon be staring the club in the face.

GRETNA...1 CHORLEY...0