A DETERMINED display against a strong Witton team brought Chorley a point from a contest that kept a 300-plus crowd richly entertained.

Seven players, five of them Magpies, were booked in a bone-crunching contest which threatened to slip from the referee's grip in a combative second half as both sides fought for a winning goal.

In the first period Albion carved out the better chances but Chorley tenaciously hung on and could have snatched victory themselves in the closing stages.

Albion were first to threaten when Darrel Dicken's wickedly dipping drive was turned over by Lee Bracey. Then Jamie Vermiglio was desperately unlucky not to give Chorley the lead when his thunderous 20-yard shot crashed against the bar.

But another speculative effort from Dicken put Witton in front in the 28th minute, his quickly-taken drive from wide on the left flashing into the far top corner of the net.

Fortunately for the home side they got back on level terms within two minutes. A free kick led to pinball exchanges in the Albion penalty area before Danny Mills slipped a pass to Danny Queeley, who finished confidently.

The home goal had an amazing escape just before the interval when a defensive slip let in top scorer Mike Moseley, who cleverly chipped the ball over Bracey but saw it come back off the bar, while Michael Yates' attempt to force home the rebound was scrambled for a corner.

Witton began to take charge in the second half and there were a number of close calls as the Magpies' defence came under pressure.

Bracey parried to safety a fierce angled drive from Yates and Moseley's penetrating run down the left and low ball across the face of goal just eluded two onrushing attackers.

But Albion had a let-off at the other end when keeper Paul Gibson spilled the ball and Vermiglio's shot at the vacant net was cleared off the line by Gary Furnival.

In a frantic last 10 minutes Chorley substitute Ian Barker blazed over from a good position and Tom Raw got in a clever lob which drifted onto the roof of the net.

However, Adam Foy should have won it for Witton in stoppage time but with only Bracey to beat he struck the bar from eight yards.

This was another very heartening performance by Chorley in all departments and they can be well satisfied with a four-point return from two games against two of the UniBond First Division's best sides.

CHORLEY...1

WITTON ALBION...1