National League North : Tamworth 2, Chorley 1

Chorley will almost certainly miss out on the National North promotion play-offs after this fourth consecutive away defeat, while victory for the Lambs kept alive their own hopes of taking part. The Magpies’ results on the road since the turn of the year have simply not been good enough with just one win from eight games.

In fairness, they offered more here than in the previous three away matches and home keeper James Belshaw made at least two crucial saves.

Andy Teague was very unlucky to see his header hit the underside of the bar moments before Tamworth went ahead and Chorley had every right to feel aggrieved four minutes from time when the softest of penalty awards enabled the Lambs to go two up before Darren Stephenson’s 17th goal of the season in added time at last ended six hours of scoreless Magpies’ endeavour.

The Magpies’ luck was right out five minutes into the second half when following a short corner routine Teague’s header struck the bar and the ball was hooked clear.

Then on 54 minutes Tamworth went in front.

A corner was not cleared and Ross Dyer fired the ball past Ashton in-off the near post.

But Chorley continued to create chances.

Substitute Micah Evans forced Belshaw into another good save and later teed up Stephenson who did not make a clean contact, enabling Belshaw to claim the loose ball.

A penalty on 86 minutes sealed the game for the Lambs.

There appeared to be minimal contact when Dyer went to ground challenged by Kieran Charnock but the referee pointed to the spot and Elliott Durrell sent Ashton the wrong way with his kick.

Stephenson finally hit the target in added time, squeezing a shot just inside the post but it was too late to salvage anything for the visitors who had fashioned enough chances to even win the game but been unable to convert them into goals.

An award-winning Lancashire motor group has agreed a record ninth year of sponsorship with Chorley Football Club.

The Chorley Group, which operates Nissan, Kia, Fiat and Hyundai franchises across the North West, has struck a deal to continue as the Magpies’ main sponsors for a further 12 months.

Andy Turner, Chairman of the Chorley Group, said: “We are proud to continue our association with our home town club.

“Next season will be our ninth as the club’s main sponsor and we are delighted with the transformation that has taken place at the Chorley Group Victory Park stadium over the last eight years.

“The town now has a team it can be proud of after two promotions have led the club to step 2 of the Non-League pyramid.

“It’s great to see Chorley competing with former Football League sides like Stockport County and Boston United on a weekly basis and we look forward to further success in the 2016/17 campaign.”

Manager Matt Jansen added: “I’d like to thank Andy and the Chorley Group for their continued support.

“It’s great to see a local company being so supportive of what we are trying to do here and I really hope we can give them something to smile about next season.”