BOSTON UNITED 2 CHORLEY 2 (a.e.t.) Chorley win 5-4 on penalties.

CHORLEY edged into the final of the Conference North promotion play-offs on an afternoon of unimaginable high drama.

Two down just after half-time, the Magpies were seconds away from elimination until a stunning overhead kick equaliser from Adam Roscoe forced extra time.

And the fairy-tale did not end there as Garry Flitcroft’s battlers had to hang on with 10 men in extra time before triumphing 5-4 in a shoot-out of no fewer than 14 penalties.

Their reward is a home final against Guiseley at Victory Park on Saturday.

Although the Magpies were heroes to a man, the crucial contributions of long-serving midfielder Adam Roscoe and keeper Sam Ashton were pivotal to victory.

Roscoe’s incredible equaliser in the fifth minute of added time levelled the tie at 2-2 and then in a dramatic shoot-out Ashton saved three Boston penalties.

But if this pair stood out for moments of individual brilliance, Chorley’s success was once again down to a typically resilient show of character.

“I’m shattered,” said boss Flitcroft afterwards. “It was such a good game of football. I’m so proud of each and every one of my players.

“Their mental strength and attitude were once again first-class. It was against the run of play that we were two goals down just after half-time but we came back.”

Urged on by more than 300 travelling fans in a crowd of 3,174, Chorley made the brighter start but it was Boston who struck first two minutes before the interval.

A long throw was not cleared and Scott Garner slammed home.

Two minutes after the break, Boston went two up, the tricky Kaine Felix cashing in on indecision in the Magpies’ defence to poke the ball past Ashton.

Fortunately for the visitors’ survival hopes, they mustered a quick reply. On 56 minutes Dale Whitham’s deep free-kick was collected by Chris Doyle who squeezed a shot past Stryjek from a very tight angle.

Late Chorley pressure seemed to have been in vain until Roscoe’s heroics. The goalscorer was then sent off for a second yellow in extra time but Ashton was Chorley’s hero during an epic shoot-out.