AN opportunist goal by Brian Ross, his 31st of the season, brought Chorley victory and a league double over Emley.

In the end the Magpies won quite comfortably but this was their fourth game in eight days and at first it showed, as Emley opened at a cracking pace and wasted two excellent scoring chances.

Towards the interval however Chorley began to impose themselves on the game and after three decent openings had gone begging they had a goal disallowed a minute before the break.

It was like bagatelle in the Emley goalmouth as Dave McKearney had a shot kicked off the line and from the rebound Dean Emerson's effort was twice deflected before hitting the back of the net, only for Kenny Mayers to be ruled offside.

The Magpies withstood further Emley pressure at the start of the second period before again gaining the upper hand. Chorley took a deserved lead on 63 minutes.

Ross was bundled over as he burst through on goal and from Emerson's teasingly flighted free kick into the box the Magpies' leading scorer cleverly lost his marker to flick a delightful header beyond keeper Ray Dennis.

Emley mustered surprisingly little in reply and Chorley, facing games at Matlock this evening and at home to Hyde tomorrow, were able to coast through to the final whistle.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.