THIS was a livelier Vanarama Conference North game than the scoreline might suggest and on the balance of chances created Chorley should have won it.

But a combination of bad luck in a stirring first half display and wayward finishing in a less inspiring second half let a hard-working Solihull side off the hook to earn a share of the spoils.

But the draw was enough to confirm the Magpies’ fourth-place finish and a home semi-final first leg on Wednesday against third-placed Boston United.

A very positive start by the home side saw Josh Hine in the thick of the action. He blazed over from an early chance, then had a goal disallowed for offside before miscuing his shot as the ball sat up awkwardly from a deep left-wing cross.

Twice Chorley were denied by the woodwork as they continued in the ascendancy.

Jack Dorney’s measured lob had Tony Breeden well beaten but clipped the bar then James Dean shook the top of the near post with a thunderous angled drive.

In reply, Reece Fleet’s intelligent chip just cleared the home bar and a raking cross-shot from Darryl Knights flew just beyond the far post.

Dean was again close to putting Chorley ahead minutes after the interval when Breeden instinctively palmed his fierce rising drive for a corner.

Sam Ashton in the home goal was seriously tested for the only time when Moors’ 29-goal Omar Bogle, cut in past two defenders and let fly, the keeper parrying the shot at his near post.

The Magpies then squandered two late chances to pocket the points.

First, substitute Aaron Burns fired high over from an open shooting position, then similarly left in the clear by a neat square pass fellow-sub Chris Almond completely missed his kick on the bobbly surface with only Breeden to beat.