TWO late goals consigned out-of-sorts Chorley to a fruitless 500-mile round trip to the Suffolk coast and but for an outstanding performance by keeper Sam Ashton, rightly named man of the match, the margin of Lowestoft’s deserved victory would have been greater.

There was little to choose between the teams in an open first half but Ashton was the busier keeper, tipping over a Danny Burns header then distinguishing himself with a terrific save from a Ryan Jarvis blockbuster.

For the Magpies, Dale Whitham was only just off-target with a downward header and the home goalmouth later survived a hectic scramble after a corner.

Lowestoft had a great chance to take the lead on the hour, when a Kieran Charnock foul conceded a penalty but Ashton pulled off a brilliant save from Jarvis’s spot-kick.

Chorley were making little impression in attack but did come close when a header from substitute James Dean was cleared off the line.

The breakthrough came on 79 minutes when substitute Robert Eagle’s corner was cleared back to him and he crossed for Jarvis to rise above the defence and head beyond Ashton.

The Trawlerboys’ victory was sealed in the first minute of added time when a neat build-up enabled Eagle to apply a near-post finish.

Manager Matt Jansen was left nonplussed by his side’s poor display.

“We were flat and one-paced,” he said. “Lowestoft were better than us and wanted it more than us, which is not something you can usually say about this Chorley team.

“I’m baffled that after such a great win over Stockport in midweek the lads could be so poor today. Sam Ashton has been superb and he kept us in the game.”

The Magpies next match is on Saturday when they are in FA Cup action at Victory Park against Frickley Athletic.