National League North : WORCESTER CITY 2 CHORLEY 3

WELL-TIMED goals at the end of each half brought Chorley three points from a tight encounter at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough Stadium.

The Magpies once again delighted manager Matt Jansen with the character they showed in coming from behind but he was less happy about another goal conceded direct from a free-kick.

He said: “We’ve got to stop giving away cheap free-kicks in dangerous areas which make winning that much harder. But I was delighted with the great spirit shown by the boys.

“There’s a real togetherness out on the pitch and in the dressing-room.”

Chorley had the early chances to go ahead notably when Dale Whitham crossed perfectly for Darren Stephenson but the striker disappointingly failed to hit the target from short range. Coming more into the game, Worcester took the lead after 34 minutes, Tyler Weir racing down the right before picking out Dan Nti who beat Sam Ashton from ten yards.

The Magpies’ confidence-boosting equaliser seconds before the break was a lucky one, Whitham’s inswinging corner being met at the far post by a firm header into his own net from City centre-back Clayton McDonald. But there was nothing fortuitous about the 50th minute goal which put the visitors in front. Josh Hine broke quickly down the right and whipped over a fine cross which Stephenson calmly controlled before placing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Compact defensive work restricted the rallying home side mainly to shots from distance but a rashly conceded free-kick some 25 yards out allowed Nti to fire Worcester level on 78 minutes with a great strike that gave Ashton no chance. The hosts then lost Sean Geddes five minutes later, red-carded for hauling down substitute Marcus Carver; it was Worcester’s fourth sending-off in the opening five matches.

They were duly made to pay for this lack of discipline when the Magpies pinched the winner in the first minute of added time. Late substitute Lewis Guy had already found the net with his first touch only to have the goal disallowed but he was on hand again to tap in Dodd’s inviting ball across the face of goal, much to the delight of the large contingent of Chorley supporters in the modest crowd of 575.