Solihulll Moors 3 Chorley 1

High-flying Chorley suffered a setback as in-form Solihull made it five wins from six in Conference North, leaving Magpies’ manager Garry Flitcroft counting the cost of ‘individual errors’.

The visitors started strongly and Moors’ keeper Tony Breeden pulled off two good saves in the opening minutes from a deflected Josh Hine shot and an underweighted lob from James Dean.

But he was helpless to prevent Dean lobbing Chorley ahead on 13 minutes for his 10th goal of the season when the home defence failed to cut out Adam Mather’s lofted through-ball.

Sam Ashton’s unsuccessful attempt to gather a well-flighted free-kick seven minutes later allowed Solihull back into the game.

The ball was knocked down to Robert Elvins who tapped in from short range.

Both teams traded half-chances before in added time ahead of the interval a well-worked corner routine put Moors in front.

A deep cross was headed back across the goalmouth and the division’s leading scorer Omar Bogle nodded the ball into the net.

The Magpies worked hard to regain parity on the resumption but fell further behind on 64 minutes.

Hine was penalised for handball just outside the Chorley box and Darryl Knights curled home a sublime free-kick Beckham-style. Chorley could easily have pulled a goal back within minutes but Hine, racing clear, shot straight at Breeden when a square pass to the supporting Dean might have produced a better outcome. “We had enough chances to have got something out of the game but individual errors at important moments have cost us today,” said Flitcroft afterwards.

His troops, who have been inconsistent on their travels this season, will need to rediscover their impressive Victory Park form if they are to overcome Halifax in next Saturday’s big FA Cup fourth qualifying round home tie.