CHORLEY again threw away two points in the promotion race as they completed a trio of home games without a win.

As against Oxford in midweek, the Magpies created enough chances to be in total command at half-time, and while they led 2-1 at the break it should have been at least four.

MORE TOP STORIES:

“You’ve got to take your chances when you’re on top and we didn’t,” said assistant manager Matt Jansen.

For the neutral, this was pure entertainment as the goals kept coming but for the majority of an excellent crowd of 1,128 it was pure frustration too. And it wasn’t just in attack that Chorley were found wanting.

Sloppy defending allowed Worcester to grab two goals in as many minutes just after the hour and turn the game on its head. Fortunately, Garry Flitcroft’s men showed typical resilience to keep going and centre-back Chris Doyle’s second goal of the game rescued a point.

Doyle had prodded Chorley ahead on 13 minutes after Aaron Burns’ close-range header had been blocked on the line. Then cleverly sent clear by James Dean, Josh Hine lost possession as he attempted to go round keeper Ryan Boot.

The Magpies were undone by a quick counter in the 20th minute as Tristian Dunkley collected Sean Geddes’ short pass unchallenged to slip the ball past the advancing Sam Ashton.

But Chorley were back in front on the half-hour. Burns won a tussle 40 yards out and released Dean, who burst clear and beat Root with a superbly-placed low drive from just outside the box. Dean then turned provider with a pinpoint centre, but Hine climbed too early and sent a header from six yards over the bar.

There was no reduction in tempo after the interval and Ashton twice pulled off terrific saves. First he pushed aside Rowe’s downwards header from a free-kick, then denied Dunkley at point-blank range But poor covering presented Worcester with the game-changing goals. Andy Teague completely misjudged the flight of a ball through the middle and the lively Dunkley darted for goal to put City level again.

A minute later Dunkley wriggled clear too easily on the right and his short centre was whipped into the roof of the net by Mike Symons.

But Chorley stood strong, and from Adam Mather’s 77th minute corner Doyle rose to power home header.

Flitcroft’s side could have won it, but the otherwise outstanding Dean fired a great chance wide.