In a dramatic finish to a thrilling encounter, defender Harvey Smith bagged the three points for the Magpies with the last kick of the game to edge out a talented Macclesfield side.
In increasingly atrocious conditions with pools of standing water on the pitch, all concerned did well to see this gripping game to its conclusion.
Two expertly-converted penalties by Craig Hewitt ensured that Chorley were never behind but the Silkmen showed enough quality on the ball to pose a constant threat going forward with the elusive Sean Etaluku outstanding.
Hewitt put the Magpies in front from the spot on seven minutes following a handball offence and only a superb save at point-blank range by Max Dearnley prevented Chorley going two up.
Macclesfield looked hard done by when a well-worked goal was ruled out for offside as Chorley held on to lead at the break.
With the elements at their back, the visitors looked supercharged on the resumption and Etaluku curled a sumptuous 25-yards’strike into the top corner in the 53rd minute to level the score.
Just when it looked as if the Magpies might be submerged under the pressure, they were awarded a second penalty for a foul on Harry Ibbitson. Hewitt again stepped up to make scoring look easy and restore their lead.
As Macclesfield hit back, the irrepressible Etaluku thundered a shot against the inside of the post and somehow the ball stayed out of the Chorley net.
Matt Urwin made a couple of terrific saves as Chorley sought to run down the clock but four minutes from time Macclesfield equalized following clever control by ex-Magpie Justin Johnson close to the by-line and a low ball into the goalmouth which left Danny Elliott with a tap-in.
This immediately after the referee inexplicably failed to award the Magpies a free-kick on the edge of the visitors’ box as Harry Ibbitson was hauled down when clean through – an obvious red-card offence.
It looked now as if Chorley would do well to hold onto a point but as so often they found a way to win. After Ibbitson fired inches wide when wriggling clear on goal and Adam Blakeman had struck the bar from 25 yards, they snatched the winner.
With the five added minutes already played, the referee allowed time for Chorley throw-in which the visitors’ defence did not deal with and Smith emerged triumphant from a ruck of players in the goalmouth after hitting the back of the net, triggering joyous celebrations among the home fans in a crowd of 1,550.
CHORLEY : Urwin, Henley, Ellis, Smith, Nolan, Hewitt (Whitehouse 71), Calveley, Carr (Summerfield 85), Clarke, Blakeman, Ibbitson. Unused : Moore, Walker, Bird, Lalkovic, Pratt.
