Inspired goalkeeping by Paul Horridge against his old club ensured that Clitheroe shared the spoils with a feisty Chorley side in a sizzling local 'derby' at Victory Park.

Not that the Blues were outplayed, for they had their moments in a fascinating contest which ebbed and flowed.

Yet the best shooting chances repeatedly fell to Gerry Luczka's Magpies and but for Horridge's impeccable judgement and agility the home team would have been a couple of goals ahead by half-time.

Horridge was soon in action, saving smartly from Mark Drew's testing free kick before Joel Byrom wasted a clear opening for Clitheroe, blazing high over from fifteen yards.

But it was Chorley, playing with great verve, who were asking most of the questions, Horridge turning a fierce drive from Ashley Parillon for a corner, then spreading himself well to block out Mike Eckersley and later parrying Stephen Burke's shot when he burst through on goal.

The keeper was, however, fortunate to escape unpunished when he appeared to save with upstretched arms after racing 30 yards out of his goal to stem another Magpies' attack.

For once, Horridge could do nothing to prevent Chorley deservedly going in front on 33 minutes when Gavin-Lee Ellison rose unchallenged to meet a corner with a powerful header.

As the temperature of battle rose, there was a flurry of bookings before Clitheroe snatched an equaliser just before half-time, Michael Saunders squeezing a shot inside the post.

Saunders almost cashed in again soon after the break, fastening onto an under-hit back-pass, but Chorley keeper Peter Collinge rushed out to close him down.

The Magpies continued to look the more threatening in attack and Horridge athletically tipped over a superbly-executed Drew free kick heading for the top corner. Burke should have done better for Chorley than to be eventually crowded out when sent clear before Drew's luck was out again, his free kick this time hitting the Clitheroe bar with Horridge beaten.

In the closing stages, Clitheroe conjured up a final flourish and twice might have grabbed the winner.

Collinge was severely tested in turning over a 35-yards blockbuster from Gary Stopforth and the keeper then had to fling himself across goal to keep out a well-directed cross-shot from Blues' substitute Paul Fildes.