BLACKPOOL shattered Chorley's hopes of going to the top of the Northern Premier League table by inflicting their first defeat of the season in a tense finish at Windsor Park on Saturday.

It was a match of fluctuating fortunes, with Blackpool seeming to have a comfortable target after bowling Chorley out for 118.

An untypically poor Chorley batting display saw them reduced to 15-3 by professional Marcus Sharp who at one stage had figures of 7-5-2-3. His strike partner David Brooks took the important wicket of Roland Horridge at 25-4.

Then a determined fifth-wicket stand of 56 in even time between Jim Fazackerley (31) and Mark Richardson (26) took the score to 81 before they were parted

Darron Walton claimed three quick wickets as Chorley slumped to 107-9 before 11 runs were added for the last wicket.

Sharp finished with 4-22, Walton had 3-17 and Brooks 3-32.

In reply Blackpool made a bright start with Martin Pickles looking in form until he was first out at 19. At 52-2 they were progressing smoothly towards victory and both Mark Lomas and Walton got into the twenties. But wickets fell regularly to Josh Marquet and Iqbal Patel as Blackpool collapsed to 97-9! Now Chorley seemed favourites to win.

Then Sharp again played a major role, using his experience to fashion a priceless stand of 24 -- which lasted for 64 minutes and 16.3 overs -- with wicketkeeper Martin Hackett to snatch victory by one wicket.

It was a tremendous feat of concentration by both players. Sharp scored 17 not out off 72 balls in 63 minutes, and Hackett was six not out from 47 balls in 64 minutes.

Chorley pro Marquet claimed 4 for 67, while Iqbal Patel deserved better than to finish on the losing side with excellent figures of 3 for 23 from 18 overs.

SCORECARD: Chorley 118 all out Blackpool 121-9