Garry Flitcroft’s decision to make bold changes to his line-up after a heavy midweek defeat was handsomely rewarded as Chorley recovered from a shaky start to cruise to victory over bottom-of-the-league Frickley.

And the match was a personal triumph for young striker Proya Ahmadi who notched a hat-trick after being handed the number nine shirt.

But the Magpies were disjointed at first and a careless square pass in midfield on eight minutes allowed Frickley’s Gavin Allott to race clear on goal and slip a shot beyond keeper Jack Cudworth.

Gradually Chorley found their rhythm and equalised in the 29th minute, Ahmadi tucking away David Mellor’s well-flighted free-kick at the far post.

Allott continued to pose a lone threat for the visitors, Cudworth reacting smartly to push aside a powerful downward header following a free-kick.

The Magpies’ goal-feast began two minutes after the break, Dale Whitham flicking a neat header just inside the post from another precise Mellor free-kick.

Ahmadi made it three on 56 minutes from a penalty for a foul on himself. Despite slipping in the act of shooting, he successfully dinked the ball past a sprawling Tom Woodhead in the Frickley goal.

A lovely move brought Ahmadi’s hat-trick on 76 minutes. Jamie Vermiglio’s lofted pass sent Kirk Millar scampering down the right and his centre was headed down by Adam Roscoe for Ahmadi to score unchallenged from short range.

Millar was unlucky not to add a fifth after a terrific solo run, his shot clipping the crossbar.

However, the fifth did arrive with eight minutes to go when substitute Ciaran Kilheeney fastening onto Roscoe’s defence-splitting pass to score with a stylish finish to the delight of home fans in a crowd of 600.