A PERFORMANCE full of character and unshakable resolve brought Chorley a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory over National League North leaders AFC Fylde in front of a record Mill Farm crowd of 3,858.

Chorley weathered an early spell of Fylde pressure during which Caspar Hughes struck the foot of the far post following a corner but once into their stride the visitors made most of the first-half running.

Kieran Charnock had a goal-bound header from a corner scrambled off the line and then Fylde keeper Rhys Taylor at full stretch palmed away another testing effort from Jake Cottrell’s centre.

It was no more than Chorley deserved when they went in front in the 44th minute.

Neat interplay down the right released Jason Walker and he cut inside his marker and into the box before leaving Taylor standing with a cracking finish.

Two minutes into the second half, Walker put the Magpies two up. Meeting a well-flighted Dale Whitham free-kick beyond the far post, the former Barrow striker fired emphatically past Taylor from an acute angle for his 10th goal of the season.

The renowned Chorley defence, keeping a 14th clean-sheet of the season, stood firm in the face of late Fylde pressure.

Fylde hot-shot Danny Rowe was kept quiet but the Magpies had one escape late on when a touchline free-kick crashed against the bar and Rowe’s attempt from the rebound was smuggled off the line.