Stalybridge 4 Chorley 2

CHORLEY were outgunned by a powerful Stalybridge side in an incident-packed Unibond League Challenge Cup group stage match on a real gluepot of a pitch at Bower Fold last night.

The Premier Division promotion-chasers roared into a third minute lead through Tony Sullivan. A minute later Nigel Evans' driven cross eluded keeper Simon Marsh and Alex Green raced in to tap home.

After Matt McNeill's departure for persistent arguing with the referee, Chorley were unaccountably denied a goal when Nick Fisher flicked in a corner past two defenders only for his effort to be ruled out by a linesman.

Evans raced onto a fine through ball and rounded Marsh to score on 51 minutes, and the same player added a gem of a fourth goal on the hour.

Danny Mills, a lively raider for Chorley throughout, finally got his team on the scoresheet in the 64th minute, shrugging off a challenge to beat keeper David Fish with a rasping shot. Two minutes later it was 4-2, Keith Evans netting with a delicate angled lob.

Chorley then proceeded to built up a real head of steam and Fish distinguished himself with brave saves from substitute David Eatock and another piledriver from Mills, who was also very unlucky to see a fine shot on the turn flash just over the bar in the closing stages.