Report: Hednesford Town 1 Chorley 3

It was a lively opening to the National League North game with Chorley's Andy Teague seeing a header blocked by Kennedy Digie in the first minute.

Paul Ennis saw his snapshot fail to trouble goalkeeper Sam Ashton. Although the visitors were forced into an early change they soon threatened again in the 15th minute.

Teague forced Town goalkeeper Dan Crane into a smart save. A half-chance came and went in the 19th minute for Hednesford.

Jack Truelove picked out Adam Thomas at the back post, but he headed over the bar.

Eight minutes later the best chance of the half for the Pitmen arrived when a flick on by Danny Glover found the winger.

But his first-time effort was brilliantly blocked by Paul Jarvis as it arrowed towards goal.

It was the visitors who struck first after 31 minutes when Jordan Connerton broke though the Pitmen back-line and fired past Crane.

As the home side looked to compose themselves they almost fell further behind.

First Darren Stephenson saw a goalbound effort headed away by George Cleet before Teague headed narrowly wide of the post in the 34th minute.

Chorley had one final chance in the first-half, with Jack Lynch whistling an effort wide of the upright two minutes before the break. Pitmen boss Frank Sinclair introduced striker Tom Peers at the break.

And it was the Chester loanee who almost dragged Town level after 57 minutes when he met Truelove's cross but could only steer his header was straight at Ashton.

But, 60 seconds later, the Pitmen equalised when the ball fell to Thomas just inside the box and he finished low into the corner for his eighth goal of the season.

The sides would only be level for six minutes, as Chorley regained the lead in controversial circumstances.

After breaking from a Hednesford corner, Thomas was clearly shoved off the ball.

But the officials failed to spot the infringement with Paul Jarvis whipping in a cross which was chested home by Dale Witham.

Glover saw a chance come and go in the 70th minute as he just couldn't stretch enough to head home before Chorley extended their lead a minute later.

A long goal-kick picked out Connerton and he made no mistake from the edge of the box.

Hednesford tried in vain to find a way back into the game and they almost reduced the deficit in the 74th minute.

When Sean Williams' free-kick was cleared away, Peers was played in and although he rounded Ashton the ball was cleared off the line by Teague.

With that ended the home side's chance of finding a way back into the game and they now head to Lowestoft Town tomorrow for a relegation six-pointer.