CRESTFALLEN Magpies fans in the Moss Rose ground on Saturday knew just how their Newcastle counterparts must have felt at Ewood on Easter Monday.

Two hammer blows in the last six minutes had turned this FA Umbro Trophy semi-final firmly Macclesfield's way and it will now require a supreme effort from Chorley to rescue the tie in the second leg at Victory Park next Saturday.

In his programme notes Macclesfield manager Sammy McIlory described Chorley as "a very classy side" and they fully justified the compliment with a commanding first half display which brought a deserved half-time lead.

But their control did not last and in the final quarter-of-an-hour battle fatigue clearly overtook key players who have been carrying injuries and this more than anything proved Chorley's undoing.

It was the cruelest of endings to a game which had promised Chorley so much.

Superbly led by Dean Emerson, the Magpies took the game to the Conference champions with some stylish approach play and should have gone ahead on 20 minutes when Lee Trundle controlled a weak clearance from keeper Ryan Price and burst into the box only to shoot narrowly wide.

Five minutes later, hundreds of Chorley fans were dancing on the terraces.

Grant Leitch laid the ball back to Dave McKearney on the right touchline and he crossed for Steve Hook near the penalty spot to direct a perfectly-timed header just inside Price's right hand post.

Although Macclesfield hit back, the Magpies defended with great composure and only once before the break was Simon Marsh exposed to real danger, the keeper making a brilliant one-handed save from Phil Power. The pattern had not changed after the interval when disaster befell centre back Andy Thorpe on 51 minutes.

Darren Lyons crossed low into the box and, with Marsh already coming out of goal, Thorpe stuck out a leg and prodded the ball into the empty net.

Though under increasing pressure now, Chorley held firm and continued to be dangerous on the break.

Kenny Mayers had a powerful header from a corner well saved and then keeper Price raced out to punch clear from the head of the hard working Brian Ross following a Trundle cross.

But as the game entered the last 15 minutes Chorley's resistance suddenly looked fragile.

The space which Macclesfield had been resolutely denied in midfield became increasingly available, and the Silkmen at last began to call the shots.

Marc Coates and Mark Gardiner were both just off target before the former sparked off joyous Macclesifled celebrations on 84 minutes. Lyons supplied another quality cross beyond the far post and Coates steamed in to score from the tightest of angles. Three minutes later an attempted clearance by Thorpe ricocheted off a colleague and fell kindly for Power and the ex-Magpie fired low into the corner.

With Macclesfield now beginning to run riot the damage could easily have become greater.

Tony Hemmings shot over the bar with only Marsh to beat and then the keeper spread himself to pull off a stunning last minute save from Coates.

Had that one gone in, next Saturday would surely have been a formality. As it is, if the Magpies can do to Macclesfield what they did to Gateshead in the quarter final, there could still be another twist to the tale.

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