Former Magpies boss Gerry Luczka is now the No 2 at Radcliffe and the match started with both sides shaking hands.

Hesketh opted to start the game with Danny Nolan and Steven Burke up front and the Magpies supporters were glad to see the return of skipper Kieran Fletcher at the heart of the midfield.

Chorley opened the scoring midway through the first half. A free-kick was fumbled by the Radcliffe stopper Greg Hall and Jordan Goodeve pounced first to knock the ball into the empty goal.

In the second half Chorley started to play with potential with wingers Mike Eckersley and Goodeve proving to be a thorn in the Radcliffe side.

Nolan and Goodeve had some good chances on goal after the interval but had to wait until 72 minutes were on the clock for the vital second.

Mike Eckersley controlled a searching ball forward and passed to Danny Nolan whose cheeky backheel found Rob Henry who rifled a shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

However four minutes later a lack of concentration in defence saw substitute Steve Howson give Radcliffe get back into the game to set up a nail-biting final 15 minutes of the game.

The home team threw everything at Chorley and in time added on Jones pulled off a point blank save from a header to secure the three points.

Chorley: Zac Jones, Rob Henry, Martin Clark, James Mullineux, Chris Smalley, Danny Finch (Roger Sharrock 75), Mike Eckersley, Kieran Fletcher, Danny Nolan, Steve Burke (Adam Farrell 80) and Jordan Goodeve.