Worcester City 2 Chorley 0

A lacklustre first half performance cost Chorley their place at the top of the Vanarama Conference North.

Garry Flitcroft’s high-flying Magpies were knocked off their lofty perch after goals from Ellis Deeney and Tristan Dunkley consigned them to a second defeat of the season.

With a number of key players ruled out through injuries and suspensions, Flitcroft’s depleted side struggled to stamp their authority against hard-working opponents.

City had already gone close on several occasions before they broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 31st minute.

Deeney left goalkeeper Sam Ashton grasping thin air when he bent an exquisite shot into the top corner from outside the box.

The Magpies did improve after the break and striker Darren Stephenson was unlucky to see a header fly inches wide of the post.

Then substitute Jack Lynch capped a lively cameo with a rasping shot from distance which forced home keeper Nathan Vaughan into his first meaningful save.

But City deservedly wrapped up the points four minutes from time when Dunkley applied a close-range finish.

Chorley boss Flitcroft was unhappy.

He said: “There were six or seven of our lads who didn’t get going in the first half.”