Leaders Curzon Ashton proved too sharp and slippery for the Magpies who were outpaced and frankly outclassed, the final score hardly reflecting the visitors’ superiority.

The Chorley defence, again lacking recognised full-backs, was too easily opened up and players contributed to their own downfall by basic individual errors which left them 3-0 at half-time. Curzon keeper Javier Sanchez tipped over an early effort from Alex Porter before two ‘soft’ goals put the leaders in control.

Michael Norton prodded the first past Zac Hibbert in the 24th minute and, on the half-hour, Dean Canning spun away from his marker to nod in a free kick at the near post.

Just before the break, a carelessly misplaced pass in midfield triggered a quick Curzon counter, Andrew Lundy racing clear to steer a fine chip beyond Hibbert.

Any hopes of a Chorley revival were destroyed six minutes into the second half when Chris Curley left Hibbert standing with a well-flighted free kick for Curzon’s fourth but, as the visitors relaxed, Chris Amadi on 67 minutes pressurised full-back David Birch into lobbing Sanchez for a spectacular own goal.

However, the four-goals cushion was restored within five minutes, a left-wing build-up slicing open the home defence yet again for Norton to apply a simple finish.

To their credit, the Magpies kept going and new signing Sam Finley’s 30-yard drive forced Sanchez into a smart diving save.

Then in the 90th minute, Tom Walker slung over an inviting cross which Alex Porter headed in at the far post to give the final score a veneer of respectability.