A THOROUGHLY punchless performance from Chorley made it all too easy for title-chasing Witton to pick up the three points which put them level with Burscough and Radcliffe at the top of the UniBond First Division.

Home keeper Ronnie Sinclair could not have had a quieter afternoon as the Magpies at no stage threatened to cancel out Albion's early lead.

In fact only some very determined defending kept Witton waiting until a quarter of an hour from the end for the clinching second goal.

Paul Hennin put Witton ahead in the 11th minute, coolly side-footing past Simon Marsh after the keeper had done well to parry his header from a corner.

Marsh made an excellent diving save from Hennin as half-time approached and then Albion's Danny Graystone got in a neat glancing header which bounced off the angle of post and bar. Witton continued to dominate the game in the second half, though Chorley centreback Simon Kay did charge forward as if to show his striker's the way only to fire high and wide.

Ian Leather rescued Chorley in the 75th minute blocking a Steve Haw effort with Marsh beaten but seconds later Witton safely banked the points.

An in-swinging corner from Lee Cox was knocked into his own net by Marsh under pressure from substitute Eddie Bishop.