A CONTROVERSIAL late penalty denied Chorley what would have been a hard-earned victory over UniBond First Division promotion favourites Radcliffe in a rousing local derby.

The Magpies' more robust approach on a lively surface unsettled Borough and after conceding a soft early goal the home side held the upper hand until Radcliffe's trio of substitutes pepped them up for a strong rally in the last half-hour.

Radcliffe were gifted a sixth minute lead when the ball appeared to go out of play over the by-line but, as Chorley defenders hesitated, Richard Battersby played to the whistle and cut the ball back for Barrie Keeling to sidefoot a simple goal.

Chorley equalised on 22 minutes with a spectacular strike. A neat right-wing move led to an excellent touchline cross from Stuart Tulloch which Dean Butterworth met with a flashing header to give keeper Danny Hurst no chance.

The goal gave the Magpies tremendous heart and Hurst was at full stretch to turn over a teasing deep cross-cum-shot from Paul Varley.

Chorley deservedly went ahead on 40 minutes when Billy McCartney rose above the defence to head in Varley's long throw at the near post.

The Magpies continued to press at the start of the second half and Darren Emmett twice within seconds tested Hurst from distance, the keeper doing particularly well to reach and tip over a clever 35-yard lob.

But as Borough began to come much more into the game the home goal had two narrow escapes.

Niell Hardy ghosted behind the defence onto a through ball only to head straight at Lee Bracey and then Hardy's intelligent chip released Simon Carden, on loan from Accrington Stanley, whose carefully placed shot past the advancing Bracey drifted just wide of the post.

Hurst then kept Radcliffe in the game with a magnificent save from a cracking effort by the quick-thinking Emmett, whose 30-yard shot curling into the top corner was tipped over the angle by the agile keeper.

It was a match-turning moment. With just six minutes remaining, a linesman spotted an infringement in the Chorley penalty areato which none of the players had reacted.

Magpies' centre-back Lee Southwood was penalised for shirt-tugging as a free kick was hoisted into the box and Jody Banim dispatched an unstoppable spot-kick to give Borough a precious point.

Furious Chorley manager Mark Molyneaux raced onto the pitch at the final whistle to angrily confront the officials and appeared fortunate to escape with only a verbal warning.

CHORLEY...2

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH...2