A deflected goal from Paul Crewe saw Chorley dumped out of the FA Cup after a disappointing performance on Saturday.

Chorley went into the game with one change from their previous match preferring striker Lee Shillito to Steve Burke.

Buoyed by last Monday's win against Radcliffe Borough, manager Tony Hesketh watched his team start the brighter of the two teams.

Ex-Manchester United prospect Mike Eckersley sent Atherton goalkeeper Paul de Garis a warning shot with a hopeful looping effort within five minutes which went just wide.

The home side had the wind taken out of their sails when Atherton scored against the run of play.

On 16 minutes, Crewe hit a driven shot towards the bottom left hand corner, but it hit the body of a defending Chorley player and was diverted into the opposite corner of the goal.

It left goalkeeper Zac Jones wrong footed and the Magpies were on the back foot for the rest of the game.

The best chance in the second half went to Atherton who were awarded a penalty when Paul Crompton was pushed in the box.

Crompton stepped up to take the spot kick but he saw his shot saved by the impressive Jones in the Chorley goal.

This gave Chorley a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't to be their day.

Chorley: Zac Jones, Rob Henry, Martin Clark, James Mullineux, Chris Smalley, Danny Finch (Chris Brookes-80), Mike Eckersley (Roger Sharrock-65), Keiran Fletcher, Lee Shillito (Steve Burke-65), Danny Nolan, Jordan Goodeve

Not used: Adam Farrell, Adam Crossley, Peter Collinge

Attendance: 208