IN front of a crowd of 2,950, Garry Flitcroft’s Chorley secured promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier Division last night with a 2-0 victory over AFC Fylde in the play-off final at Victory Park.

The Blackburn connection has done much to raise the Magpies’ profile this season, with ex-skipper Flitcroft joining as boss and 33-year-old Matt Jansen up front.

But it was perhaps a lesser known former Rover, Steve Foster – a golden boot winner with Blackburn at the prestigious Northern Ireland Milk Cup in 1996, when a certain West Ham player by the name of Joe Cole was player of the tournament – who scored the goal that put Chorley on the road to promotion from First Division North.

Ten years to the week since Jansen and Flitcroft guided Rovers to promotion to the Premier League with a famous victory at Preston, 1,515 watched Chorley’s 2-1 home win over Curzon Ashton in Monday’s play-off semi final and home fans arrived in even greater numbers for last night’s final.

Ex-Blackburn defender Craig Short was among the crowds, as he offered his support to his former Ewood team-mates.

Kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow queueing fans to get through the turnstiles and Chorley, who had home advantage by virtue of finishing third this season compared to Fylde’s fifth, were raring to go.

Dale Whitham needed only two minutes to hammer a 20-yard shot against the crossbar but AFC Fylde, a bogey team for the Magpies this season, began to work their way into the game with Glenn Steel heading wide.

Chorley had the lead in the 22nd minute, though, as Tom Ince squared from the left and Foster converted from six yards.

The hosts were holding the lead relatively comfort-ably and they were able to withdraw Jansen shortly after half time, but keeper Chris Howarth was forced into a superb save late on as Matt Walwyn looked certain to nod home at the far post.

It proved to be the pivotal moment as Victory Park erupted with five minutes to go as sub Jack Dorney flashed a superb shot into the net from the corner of the area, taking him to 20 goals for the season and sealing a promotion that was greeted by a pitch invasion at full time.

For Chorley it was a return to the Premier Division for the first time in four years and the fulfilment of an ambition that was made clear at the start of the season.

For a club who once plied their trade in the Conference and secured a famous FA Cup win over Wolves, there have been plenty of signs this season that this promotion need not be the end of Chorley’s progress.

Chorley: Chris Howarth; Mark Ross, Andy Teague, Andy Russell, Tom Walker; Adam Roscoe, Dale Whitham, Jamie Vermiglio, Tom Ince; Steve Foster, Matt Jansen (Jack Dorney 52). Subs not used: Lee Woodyatt, Shelton Payne, Nathan Fairhurst, Jordan Stepien.

AFC Fylde: Lewis Edge; Ryan Elderton, Phil Doughty, Glenn Steel, Michael Stringfellow (Danny Mahoney 71); Matt Mahoney (Andy Bell 57), Matt Kay, Joe Booth, Paul Jarvis, Mike Barnes; Kevin Townson (Matt Walwyn 57). Subs not used: Dave Stephenson, Matt Lawler.