Clitheroe seized the chance to go top of the UniBond First Division with a hard-earned win in this keenly-contested local derby.

But the Blues needed to show considerable resilience to resist spells of pressure from the Magpies whose luck was right out when two efforts were cleared off the Clitheroe goal-line in the first half.

What really settled a very tight game was the visitors' ability to strike decisively on the break and their lively strike-pair, Gary Jackson and Tony Evans, both got on the scoresheet from two such raids.

Jackson's goal, when he caught keeper Paul Horridge out of position in the 10th minute, was the Blues' only serious shot on target in the opening half.

Chorley hit back strongly and squandered a couple of good chances but Clitheroe opened with a bang after the break and Tom Hardwick brought a good save out of Horridge with a fierce drive following a short corner routine.

But the Magpies were soon pressing again and Peter Wright hit a screamer just over the bar. Then Martindale was just too high from Wright's intelligent lay-off.

However, Clitheroe's quick breaks always carried a threat and on 63 minutes Jackson chased a long ball down the right and pulled it back perfectly for Evans to finish in style smashing his shot into the bottom corner.

Chorley were still not done and the ever-dangerous Wright was unlucky not to find the corner of the net with a cute back-heel which Peter Collinge saw late and dived to turn for a corner.

The Magpies unsurprisingly reduced the arrears on 77 minutes after smart approach play between John Bluck and Wright, the latter teeing up Tony Sullivan for a well-taken goal.

In stoppage time, Clitheroe's Simon Garner was promptly red-carded for aiming a retaliatory kick following a clash with Antony Bowden in midfield.