Chorley 1, Tamworth 1 (National League North)

Darren Stephenson’s tenth goal of the season was not enough to secure victory for Chorley as the curse of the late goal once again returned to haunt Matt Jansen’s men.

In gruelling conditions the Magpies dominated one of the league’s high-fliers for much of a tough contest and looked set for a fully deserved win when Stephenson put them ahead with just eleven minutes to play.

But a Tamworth corner in the 87th minute proved critical as the division’s draw specialists took their tally to twelve for the season.

In front of a crowd of 918, Chorley pressurised Tamworth repeatedly in the opening period, the Lambs barely registering a shot on goal.

On another day the mercurial Stephenson might easily have bagged a hat-trick or more and had three chances in a four-minute spell.

Sent clear midway through the first half, he elected to shoot rather than dribble round exposed keeper James Belshaw and the Tamworth stopper pulled off a fine reflex save with an outstretched leg.

Moments later Stephenson tested Belshaw with a low 25-yards’ drive which almost squirmed out of his grasp into the net; within a minute he only half-hit his shot ashe again ran clear on goal, allowing Belshaw to save more comfortably.

Tamworth created an early second-half chance when Dan Newton broke through but Sam Ashton dived to gather the shot.

Yet it was Chorley who continued to call the tune.

On the hour Stephenson was guilty of an incredible miss, passing up the chance of a simple tap-in when failing to make contact with a low centre a yard from goal.

As Newton broke again, Andy Teague snuffed out the danger with a perfectly-timed tackle on the edge of the box. Chorley continued to press and on 79 minutes Stephenson finally delivered – at the second attempt.

Left clear on goal once more, he saw his powerful shot parried by Belshaw but the keeper was helpless to prevent Stephenson from chipping the rebound into the empty net.

The goal belatedly stoked up Tamworth and the danger sign was there for Chorley when Shane Clarke hit the underside of the bar in a goalmouth scramble.

And with three minutes to go came the corner from which late substitute Leon Mettam deftly headed past Ashton via the inside of the far post.

‘The team did fantastically well today,’ observed Matt Jansen after the match. ‘We’ve absolutely battered a good side and deserved to take all three points.’

The January transfer deadline came and went with clubs looking for a snip told not come bother calling at Victory Park.

A Sky Bet League Two side did make a bid for striker Darren Stephenson, but the deal fell a long way short of our valuation and was substantially less than the fee received from Evo-Stik Premier Division side Salford City for the transfer of Josh Hine; so the offer was politely turned down.

One piece of deadline day news of note to Chorley supporters was the confirmation that Lewis Guy has signed for Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic.