A GOAL two minutes into stoppage time which could yet save Matlock from relegation, prevented a youthful Chorley side from snatching a point after a promising and spirited display.
With only five regular first teamers on duty, the Magpies had levelled at 3-3 in the 90th minute but in a desperate last fling by Matlock, Mark Culley forced the ball into the net from close range.
Traffic delays had forced Chorley to take the field direct from the coach but the lack of a warm-up did not inconvenience the Magpies, who led at the break through an 18th minute Brian Ross tap-in when the keeper fumbled a Grant Leitch free kick.
Culley headed Matlock level three minutes after the restart. Now fighting for everything, the home side missed good chances before Ryan Wake's header (64 minutes) finally put them ahead.
Two minutes later Steve Hook thumped home a low drive to make it 2-2 but on 70 minutes Matclock regained the lead with a route-one goal smartly taken by Richard Taylor from a hefty clearance following a Chorley corner.
With time running out, a glancing header by Hook brought Chorley level again before Culley's very late strike lifted Matlock out of the bottom two, above Droylsden on goal difference.
Only one of them can survive on Saturday when Matlock visit Barrow and Droylsden entertain Emley.
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