CHORLEY lost vital ground in the Evo-Stik First Division North title race after they paid the price for a succession of missed chances.

Garry Flitcroft’s Magpies should have had this game sewn up by half-time but they failed to land the decisive blow when they had Witton on the ropes.

Albion drew first blood, against the run of play, in the 15th minute when Alex Titchiner seized on a knock down inside the area.

After that, the Magpies threatened to run riot, skilfully carving the Witton defence open at will on a pitch that became increasingly scarred by the incessant rain.

The impressive John Cunliffe drew Chorley level in the 19th minute, deftly rounding keeper Matt Townes before stroking a shot into the gaping net.

Cunliffe and strike-partner Adam Roscoe then spurned two glorious chances to extend the lead before the Magpies struck again seven minutes before the break.

This time Cunliffe turned provider when he clipped an inch-perfect cross to the far post for debutant Andy Teague to power home a header.

As the Magpies slipped through the gears, Teague had a second ‘goal’ chalked out for offside, and Dale Whitham drilled another effort wide.

Teague thought he had scored again in the 66th minute, only to be denied by a linesman’s flag.

As the Magpies contested that decision, Witton promptly swept down the other end and grabbed an equaliser courtesy of the opportunist Titchiner.

Neither side managed to conjure a winner in the closing stages in fast deteriorating conditions, leaving Flitcroft to rue the missed opportunities from the first half.