CHORLEY fans were given an early Christmas present as Matt Jansen’s side shocked league leaders Salford City with a 3-0 win.

After a nervy opening 15 minutes, the hosts almost went ahead when Mike Phenix’s strike from 30 yards just sailed wide.

Nick Haughton started to come into the game and created some openings for himself and Marcus Carver but could not find the back of the net.

But on the half hour mark, the Magpies went ahead as Walker set Haughton to get into the box and fire into the top corner of the net.

Jansen’s side never looked back as Andy Teague and Stephen Jordan were winning everything that was threw at them and they managed to protect Matt Urwin’s goal.

The Magpies went in at the break with a two-goal cushion as Carver took advantage of poor defending and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

After the break, Chorley continued in the same vein of form as the first half as they looked to add to the tally.

Carver continued to impress and this time he set up the third goal.

He beat his man and then squared the ball for Josh O’Keefe to take in from five yards just before the hour mark.

Chorley should have had a fourth goal Urwin’s ball forward was won by Carver and his header beat the keeper only for a Salford player to clear the ball off the line.

Salford went down to 10 men when an off the ball kick by Burton was spotted by the referee who was in no doubt that he had kicked Carver.

The Magpies saw out the rest of the game by controlling the midfield possession.

Even with Salford throwing men forward to try and get back into the game they were confident in defence and the clean sheet was never in doubt.

Special mentions need to go to Dale Whitham and O’Keefe who worked hard all game to allow the front men to have the success they did.

CHORLEY: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (c), Leather, Jordan, Haughton, Whitham, Carver, Walker, O’Keefe