CHORLEY suffered their second cup exit in the space of five days after losing 3-0 to Stockport County in the third qualifying round of the Trophy

But Ramsbottom United earned a hard-fought replay after drawing 0-0 at Pickering Town and the teams will meet again at the Riverside tomorrow night.

The Magpies, who were beaten 7-0 by Doncaster Roves in their FA Cup first round replay, failed to negotiate their first hurdle in this season’s FA Trophy as they slipped to a second 3-0 defeat at Edgeley Park in the space of a month.

The Hatters, who won their National League North encounter in October, must have been surprised at this second comfortable victory over a Chorley side until recently viewed as County’s ‘bogey team’.

Last Saturday’s emphatic success at Kidderminster suggested that the Magpies had emerged from the doldrums of the past month but this match was a wake-up call for a side that seems to have lost its defensive solidity which has brought it so much success in recent seasons.

Admittedly injuries have begun to take their toll but too many goals at present are being conceded from set-pieces as were two in this match.

In addition, the Magpies missed a crucial opportunity to take an early lead when Adam Blakeman, usually so reliable from the penalty-spot, saw his effort saved by Ben Hinchcliffe. The award in the fifth minute followed a foul on Louis Almond but Hinchcliffe must have done his homework on Blakeman’s deliveries and flinging himself to his left he tipped ball for a corner.

It was County who took the lead on 18 minutes when Ash Palmer reacted the quickest to bundle home a corner from close range. Although Chorley had half-chances - with Almond firing just wide from outside the box and Hinchcliffe smothering a low shot from Elliot Newby - they still trailed at the break.

Almond created another chance for himself soon after the restart, turning a defender but firing straight at Hinchcliffe before Stockport effectively wrapped up the tie with headed goals in the 53rd and 55th minutes. First, Jamie Scott converted a left-wing corner and then a low centre from the same flank was nodded home by Adam Thomas.

Manager Jamie Vermiglio said: “We started very well and if we had scored the early penalty it could have been a different game,” he said.

“Their goals all came from corners and crosses and that’s not what Chorley are all about, which is to be solid defensively.”

Ramsbottom extended their unbeaten run to 12 games under new manager Chris Willcock thanks to their 0-0 draw in North Yorkshire.

In what proved to be a cracking cup tie, the Rams created plenty of chances with the in-form attacking trident of Nialle Rodney, Nic Evangelinos and Ruben Jerome all looking dangerous.

But they had a let off when Pickering hit the woodwork in the first half before the home side had a goal contentiously chalked off early in the second half .

Both sides continued to attack but it was Rams defensive resilience that earned them a replay tomorrow night (7.45pm ko).