STOCKSBRIDGE PS 2 CHORLEY 2

STAND-IN keeper Steve Hook was Chorley's hero with a brilliant penalty save as the Magpies dented Stocksbridge's UniBond First Division promotion hopes despite playing half the match with only ten men.

Centre-back Hook was in fact one of three keepers used by Chorley, who had Simon Marsh harshly sent off for the foul which led to the penalty just before half-time.

Hook's first action was to dive to his left to save Lee Wainwright's firmly-struck spot-kick but almost at once Hook was restored to central defence and substitute Chris Blakeman took over in goal.

The Magpies had begun brightly and home keeper Ross Turner produced a tremendous save to keep out Mike Wallace's free-kick heading for the top corner.

Chorley were full value for their lead on 35 minutes when Keith Evans fired in from a tight angle and they doubled it on 47 minutes, the unmarked Neil Matthews crashing home Peter Smyth's cross.

It could have been three six minutes later when Matthews' thunderous shot beat Turner but cannoned off the bar.

Kevin Ronan pulled one back with a fierce shot following a half-cleared corner on 70 minutes and Gary Hurlstone salvaged a point for Stocksbridge with a near-post header from another corner three minutes from time.