A SERIES of missed chances almost cost Chorley the match and it needed a smart piece of finishing by substitute Keith Evans in the closing stages to save the Magpies a point from a scrappy encounter.

Bustling Belper were always quick to close Chorley down when in possession but even so the Magpies could have led 3-1 on first half chances.

Adam Critchley headed just wide in the first minute from a pinpoint Paul Fleming cross but Carl Cunningham came close for Belper with a snapshot on the turn. Then from a Neil Mitchell free kick for Chorley, Ian Barker headed over the bar and later Damian Corcoran got in a powerful shot which also flew just too high.

Chorley survived a vigorous opening to the second half by Belper and missed a great opportunity when, from Mitchell's clever through ball Barker elected to lob the keeper, who back-pedalled in time to save under the crossbar.

The home keeper then pulled off a fine save from Paul Allen from another inviting Fleming centre. But it was Belper who snatched the lead on 74 minutes when Cunningham stole in to meet a free kick and head in from close range.

A double substitution threw Chorley a lifeline when, with six minutes left, Jon Senior's searching diagonal pass was expertly controlled by Evans who smashed the ball beyond the keeper for a superb equaliser.

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