CHORLEY emerged from a compelling, action-packed cup-tie with a place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and a valuable £7,500 prize but were made to fight all the way by a spirited Bay side which had already won four ties to reach this stage.

Although Chorley made the early running they fell behind on 14 minutes. Andy Teague dwelt on the ball indecisively and was dispossessed, Adam Shanks beating Sam Ashton with a sublime chip from 30 yards.

Then on 35 minutes Harry Winter’s header had goal written all over it until keeper Andy Bennison pulled off a wonder save to tip the ball for corner.

Two goals in three minutes just after half-time turned the tie the visitors’ way. On 48 minutes Andy Bond surged into the box and hit a cracking shot into the top corner, then Jake Cottrell met Mark Ross’s centre with a bullet-header to put Chorley in front.

The visitors were then stunned by a Bay equaliser on 71 minutes, Shanks ghosting in to head past Ashtonfor his sixteenth goal of the season.

The Magpies determinedly raised their game again and the lively Carver’s close-range header thumped the bar. The all-important Chorley goal arrived in the 79th minute when Darren Stephenson reacted quickly to slip the ball into the net following a half-hit shot by James Dean.

Minutes later, the latter spurned the chance to wrap up the tie, choosing to round the keeper only to shoot wide, with Josh Hine completely unmarked and the goal gaping.

In the end, with Bay mounting a desperate late rally, only smart work by Ashton in closing down the dangerous Shanks prevented a replay.