A BATTLING Bamber Bridge performance at Irongate last night severely dented Chorley's UniBond First Division play-off hopes.

Nothing went right for the Magpies, who had too many individuals performing below par, whereas Bamber Bridge worked tirelessly throughout.

Manager Mark Molyneaux made a rare appearance in the Chorley goal, with regular keeper Lee Bracey unavailable, and he appeared at fault for both goals.

And the Magpies missed an early penalty and with it the chance to impose themselves on the game.

Darren Emmett took the seventh-minute spot-kick after a foul by Jez Baldwin but saw his shot well saved by Graham Bennett. Bridge then had a further escape when Lee Wilkinson met a corner with a powerful downwards header which was scrambled off the line.

Molyneaux then pulled off an athletic save from Stuart Honour's cross-shot but was deceived on 36 minutes by Billy Abbott's 30-yard fierce dipping drive, for which he seemed to go up too early.

Bridge got a tighter grip in midfield after the break, restricting the Magpies to half-chances from outside the box. Molyneaux had to react quickly to deny Abbott but then spilled an angled shot and Mark Wane deftly chipped the ball over the prostrate keeper into the net.

To make the play-offs now, Chorley must win their final match at Stocksbridge on Saturday and hope Witton Albion (at Spennymoor) and Belper Town (at Matlock) fail to pick up three points.

BAMBER BRIDGE ...2

CHORLEY ...0