CONGLETON TOWN 1 CHORLEY 5

A MUCH changed Chorley team strolled to an emphatic victory in the last of their UniBond League Cup group stage matches and the Magpies will now qualify for the knockout quarter-finals of the Chairman's Cup.

Manager Ken Wright gave a run out to long term absentees Simon Kay and Michael Wallace in defence and also fielded three other fringe players. Kay in particular looked surprisingly sharp after missing all but the opening game of the season.

The Magpies raced into a commanding 3-0 half time lead, Keith Evans firing them ahead on 20 minutes with a fierce low drive.

Ten minutes later Evans struck a post but Neil Mitchell was on hand to steer the rebound into the net. Steve Hook's bullet header from a 34 minute corner made it three.

A superbly worked goal on 50 minutes brought Chorley's fourth, Mick Fisher's incisive pass releasing Matt Swailes for a thunderous finish. Fisher was again the provider in the 58 minute, Evans showing real class in deftly clipping the ball into the far corner of the net.

Paul Bowyer did pull one back for a well beaten Congleton after 71 minutes, poking in a loose ball after an excellent reaction stop by Simon Marsh, who otherwise had the easiest of nights in the Chorley goal.