Chester 1, Chorley 2: Magpies maintain fine form in the league

The six-point haul from the two festive season matches extends the side’s unbeaten run in the National League North to nine games and in a rapid climb up the table lifts them into ninth place, just one point away from a play-offs slot.

Ollie Shenton put the Magpies in front on 24 minutes after a long throw from Andy Owens was contested by Scott Leather, the ball dropping into Shenton’s path for him to finish decisively. Anthony Dudley equalised for Chester in the 35th minute, bursting through and squeezing his shot past Matt Urwin.

The winning goal came from a penalty in added time at the end of the first half. Connor Hall was brought down in the box and stepped up himself to score with power from the spot, his third successful such conversion and his fourth goal in as many games this month.

Chorley managed the game particularly well in the second half, providing excellent defensive cover for Urwin and defending magnificently in the final quarter when Chester threw everything into a bid to save the game.