Chorley 1 Congleton Town 1

TRICKY underfoot conditions frustrated both teams in a low key midday encounter in the UniBond First Division.

Although Chorley stretched their unbeaten December run to six games, a competitive Congleton carved out the greater number of clear chances and almost snatched a late winner.

After a couple of 20 yard sighters from Chorley's Paul Fleming and Peter Smyth had flashed wide, bottom club Congleton went ahead in the 23rd minute. Graham Dodd beat the offside trap and saw his fierce shot blocked by Simon Marsh, but when the ball was returned into the middle Peter Weston squeezed a low shot just inside the post.

The Magpies equalised on 37 minutes when visiting keeper Micky Allison could only palm out and inswinging corner from Smyth and Gregg Challender beyond the back post headed across goal for Damian Corcoran to outjump the defence and score with a firm header.

The visitors almost regained the lead when Rod Thornley's lob drifted just wide of an empty net and Marsh then twice had to punch clear in a packed goalmouth following a dangerous free kick.

Chorley had the better of much of the second half with the lively David Eatock threatening the Congleton goal on four occasions. His powerful 25 yard drive after one clever piece of footwork flew narrowly over the bar and he was particularly unlucky to be denied the run of the ball when he chased a back pass and nicked it beyond the keeper.

But Congleton finished full of fight and John Borg's volley brought a great one-handed save from Marsh, who then tipped over an Adrian Dunn blockbuster following a clever free kick.