THERE was no doubting Chorley's right to a point from an absorbing match and they would surely have taken all three if they had converted just one of a string of second-half chances.

But the fact that they didn't win was due largely to moments of inspiration by Workington keeper John Armfield and irrepressible front man Darren Wilson.

Both sides had opportunities in an open first half. Neil Mitchell crossed perfectly for substitute Stuart Parkinson but his free header flew over the bar and then Workington twice went very close.

From Paul Stewart's centre, Wilson got in a superb header which Simon Marsh plucked out of the top corner and the hard-working Stewart himself rattled the bar with a powerful drive.

The home side then escaped in turn when Ian Barker's run ended with a defender clearing off the goal-line.

The first 20 minutes of the second half of play after the break produced a catalogue of near misses for Chorley. Twice in quick succession defence-splitting passes by Ian Gibson and Jon Senior sent Barker clear, but though he wrong-footed Armfield each time, the keeper produced unlikely reflex saves with an outstretched leg. Then when Parkinson's pacey run took him clear, his lob over the keeper trickled wide after clipping the post. Gibson was then wastefully off target following more great work by Parkinson and a fifth chance was lost when defender Simon Kay charged through the middle on a solo run only to shoot straight at Armfield.

Completely against the run of play Workington went ahead on 69 minutes with a curious goal, when Wilson, grounded by a challenge from Mark Simms, somehow connected with the loose ball to direct it wide of Marsh.

It took Chorley only three minutes to draw level. Mitchell broke through and had a fierce shot blocked by a defender but Gibson, following up on the edge of the box, hammered the ball first time into the top corner of the net.

The Magpies applied heavy late pressure in a bid for a winner but though fully stretched the Workington defence just held out.

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