A SUPERB team performance swept Chorley into Saturday's final of the UniBond League play-offs and a local 'derby' at first division rivals Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park.

While Borough were narrowly out-pointing North Ferriby 1-0 in the other semi-final, the Magpies put on a five-star show to the delight of Victory Park's biggest crowd of the season - an attendance of 557.

There was a particularly high-octane start to the first half which saw the Magpies come from behind to establish a crucial two-goal lead.

However, while Chorley are now just one win away from a return to the UniBond Premier Division, for a sorry Gateshead side last night's comprehensive defeat signals relegation to Division One.

The match crackled with entertainment right from the start and Ian Barker soon tested Gateshead keeper Adam Cleminson with a dipping 25-yards drive which he tipped over the bar.

Three goals in a dramatic five-minutes spell cranked up the excitement.

On 18 minutes, Anthony Hogan carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and the Tynesiders' skipper Gareth McAlindon raced clear to shoot low inside Lee Bracey's left-hand post.

But within three minutes Chorley were level when Darren Emmett's touchline free kick skidded past Cleminson, clearly deceived by Lee Wilkinson's dummy run across the face of goal.

Then on 23 minutes a classy goal put the Magpies in front. Wilkinson swept the ball wide to Emmett who cut inside two defenders and shaped to shoot but instead chipped a perfectly weighted pass for Barker to finish in emphatic style.

As Gateshead hit back, central defender Ian Leather prevented a certain equaliser when with Bracey out of position he chested the ball for a corner from a thunderous shot by Willie Moat.

But there was another quality finish to come from the Magpies' relentless probing, Wilkinson finding the far corner of the net from a tight angle with a clever overhead kick four minutes before the break.

If the visitors were already on the ropes they were nearly out of the contest completely soon after the restart when, from another incisive low cross from Emmett, defender Dave Morgan somehow blocked Wilkinson's point-blank shot on the line.

Gateshead then enjoyed their best spell of pressure and Bracey saved well from a close-range Moat header following a free kick.

At the other end, Dean Butterworth should have made it four from Emmett's inviting through ball but after gliding past Cleminson he fired into the side-netting.

The decisive fouth goal for Chorley arrived on 78 minutes, the irrepressible Emmett crossing low for Danny Mills to fire past Cleminson from three yards.

Six minutes from time Moat rifled a half-clearance beyond Bracey from the edge of the box to keep Gateshead's faint hope of saving the game alive but this was finally extinguished in the 87th minute when Chorley added a fifth.

Mills burst through and struck a fierce 20-yards drive which ricocheted off Cleminson onto the bar, substitute Andy Mason following up to poach his 50th goal for the Magpies.

The final whistle triggered noisy celebrations on and off the pitch but manager Mark Molyneaux was quick to keep things in perspective after the game.

"It's been a fantastic night for everyone at Chorley but we haven't won anything yet," he said.

"I'm very proud of all my players tonight because they have worked so hard for each other and kept their discipline as I insisted they did.

"Roll on Saturday! It will be a super match against a team who, like ourselves, want to play football.

"It will be great for the fans and whoever wins will deserve to go up into the Premier Division."

CHORLEY...5 GATESHEAD...2