IN AN absorbing contest played in treacherous conditions, Chorley were unable to preserve a two-goal half-time lead as a cameo appearance by Bradford super-sub James Walshaw changed the course of the match.

Famed non-league hot-shot Walshaw bagged a brace, his point-saving second arriving a minute into added time.

Chorley were hugely impressive in the first half, their high-tempo play repeatedly carving open an uncertain Avenue defence, but they found a potentially match-winning third goal elusive and ultimately ran out of steam as Bradford raised their game.

The Magpies raced into the lead after four minutes. A careless square-pass out of defence was seized upon by Darren Stephenson who promptly cracked a low 25-yard drive into the corner of the net. Then on 15 minutes Avenue keeper Jon Stewart threw the ball out only for Mark Ross to intercept and release Josh Hine. James Dean cleverly wrong-footed the visitors’ defence and Chris Doyle made no mistake in firing past Stewart.

Though largely overrun, Bradford had their moments. A back-heel sent Chib Chilaka through but he could only shoot straight at Sam Ashton. Chorley should have had a third when Dean was sent clear but he could not squeeze his shot past Stewart.

The keeper pushed the ball aside into the path of Hine who incredibly missed the target from three yards. Avenue escaped again after Stewart dropped a Dale Whitham drive; a scramble in front of goal ensued before the ball was hacked to safety.

Tactical changes and effective use of substitutes galvanised Bradford in the second half and Chorley were slow to sense the danger.

They were lucky to escape a penalty when Chilaka went down under challenge from Ashton but it looked a soft award when the referee did point to the spot after 72 minutes. Walshaw, minutes after entering the fray, went down very easily with Doyle in attendance and stepped up to score.

The Magpies’ goal-attempts were drying up, the best of them a fierce on-target drive by Ross which Hine unwittingly deflected high and wide.

The home side were finally undone in added time, failing to retain possession from a throw-in deep in the Bradford half and allowing the visitors to break quickly. Alex Pursehouse whipped in a dangerous cross to the near post which the opportunist Walshaw met with a smart glancing header past Ashton.

It was a hugely frustrating end for Chorley and their fans in a crowd of 918 but few would deny that Bradford’s brave fightback merited a point.

“I’ve seen the video and it was never a penalty,” said Magpies boss Matt Jansen. “It’s given Bradford a bit of belief and put us on the back foot. We were exceptional in the first half and could have scored more goals which would have made all the difference.”