STOCKSBRIDGE showed plenty of steel to frustrate Chorley at Victory Park and virtually extinguish the Magpies' fading hopes of reaching the UniBond First Division play-offs.
The visitors didn't allow Chorley time or space to open up a heavily-manned defence. In fact, despite all the Magpies' efforts, keeper Richard Siddall did not have a serious save to make and, with Stocksbridge themselves lacking penetration up front, goalmouth incident was in short supply.
The first quarter of the match passed without incident before Danny Mills' low shot was deflected, then he had another strong effort blocked in a packed penalty area.
Dean Butterworth was then unlucky to see his hook shot fly just outside the post.
As half-time approached, Chorley had their best two chances of gaining a vital lead. First Butterworth raced onto Anthony Hogan's long punt out of defence but his attempted lob over the advancing keeper was well off target.
Butterworth broke again through only to shoot off-balance as Siddall came out and drill the ball wide.
Early in the second half, Stocksbridge skipper Jeremy Illingworth dragged his angled drive from James Tevendale's inviting lay-off wide of the far post.
Chorley repeatedly had the visitors on the back foot after that, with Stuart Tulloch, Lee Wilkinson and Ian Barker but could not make the breakthrough.
CHORLEY ...0
STOCKSBRIDGE PS ...0
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