There was delight for Chorley as they downed Fleetwood on Saturday in an enthralling game at Windsor Park to maintain their lofty fourth-placed position in a season that is shaping up to be one to remember.

Adam Parker hit a superb 69 off 101 balls including 13 fours after his side had been reduced to 63-5.

Pro Ryan Smith supplied the fireworks with five fours and four sixes in his 48 off 43 balls, the pair adding 61 in 31 minutes.

Billy Smith bowled superbly to take 5-39, including both openers and then Parker and namesake Smith in his second spell. Chorley opening bowler Kieran McCullagh was forced to leave the field after bowling 6.5 overs with a heel injury.

Ryan Smith then produced a sustained spell of fast bowling and finished with 4-81 off 19.2 overs and Parker bowled 13 overs to take 3-41; but Chorley earned 12 points after Billy Smith the winning boundary off the pro in a tense finish, last man McCullagh batting with a runner.

Opener Stu Naden hit 42 off 73 balls but after Chorley slipped to 97-6 Iain Critchley (34 off 28 balls) and Ian Oakes (24 off 41 balls) turned the game with a stand of 53 in 29 minutes.

Fleetwood

A Sharrocks ct Holdsworth b Smith 4
C Stanhope ct Moulton b Smith 0
A Parker ct Holdsworth b Smith 69
D Bell ct Smith b McCullagh 7
J Ellis ct Holdsworth b I Critchley 7
M Wilkinson ct I Critchley b Moulton 0
M Clinning ct Smith b Dhar 16
R Smith ct I Critchley b Smith 48
J Bell LBW Dhar 9
M Clark ct I Critchley b Smith 2
K McGann Not Out 0
Extras 10
Total (all out, 48.1 overs) 172.

K McCullagh 6.5 0 32 1, B Smith 13 3 39 5, W Moulton 5.1 0 13 1, I Critchley 11 4 46 1, G Dhar 12.1 2 37 2.

Chorley

A Holdsworth ct Bell b Smith 7
S Naden ct Bell b Smith 42
M Critchley b Smith 10
W Moulton LBW McGann 12
J Bentham LBW McGann 12
G Dhar ct Bell b Smith 0
I Critchley ct Clinning b Parker 34
I Oakes LBW Parker 24
A Weetman ct Clinning b Parker 7
B Smith Not Out 9
Keiran McCullagh Not Out 0
Extras 17
Total (9 wickets, 43.2 overs) 174.

R Smith 19.2 1 81 4, A Parker 13 2 41 3, K McGann 9 1 33 2, M Clinning 2 0 11 0.

Chorley won batting second by one wicket.