THE new season brought a new kit and a new ground for Chorley Ladies and the opening day of the campaign didn’t disappoint as they welcomed Morecambe.

Chorley started quickly with chances falling to Ruth Harrison and Rachel Wood. However, it was Morecambe who took the advantage with a converted penalty from a challenge that saw Chorley go down to 10 players after only five minutes .

Charlotte Higginson played a fantastic through ball to Vicky Coope who emphatically finished to bring the game all square.

The second followed shortly after when an inch-perfect cross from Natalie Parry found Katherine Bonner at the back post sending Chorley into the lead. Bonner soon doubled her tally with an identical follow up goal to her first. It was through quick play between Parry and Coope with the cross to the back post being slotted in.

After the break, Chorley added a fourth minutes after the restart. Wood found Coope on the edge of the six-yard box to tap home.

Chorley captain Janet Dawson was strong at the back and she initiated the Chorley fifth goal by finding Coope, who linked up with Wood and Harrison who coolly slotted past the Shrimp’s keeper.

But Morecambe’s quick-fire goals set up a nervy finale.

But Chorley held on to win a thrilling contest 5-4, claiming all three points.