CHORLEY lost vital ground in the UniBond First Division promotion race to third-placed Belper and there could be no denying the visitors' right to the three points.

The Magpies have yet to beat Belper in a league match but at the seventh attempt they might just have done so if David Eatock had not squandered a gilt-edged chance shortly before half-time when Chorley were already one up.

The visitors ought to have taken an early lead but Simon Collins dragged his effort wide of an empty net and Chorley subsequently created the clearer openings in the first half.

Jamie Bates almost deceived keeper Gary Ingham with an awkward swirling centre which he palmed behind at full stretch and Paul Varley tested him with a fierce shot from 25 yards.

But it was Bates who made the breakthrough in the 36th minute when he swung another diagonal ball into the box and surprised Ingham, who saw it bounce high over his shoulder and into the far corner of the net.

Two minutes before the break it should have been two-nil.

Eatock cleverly exchanged passes with Darren Emmett and the latter's perfectly weighted delivery left Eatock with a free run on goa, but from 12 yards he shot straight at Ingham.

That was to prove the Magpies' last chance as Belper totally dominated the second half, taking complete charge in midfield, and the home side mustered hardly a worthwhile shot on goal.

Keeper Lee Bracey pulled off a stunning flying save to keep out a blockbuster from Belper's outstanding skipper Steve Kennedy, but the inevitable equaliser arrived after 64 minutes. Ian Leather, still finding his feet after two lengthy on-field treatments for injuries, completely miscued a clearance and the ball fell to Collins for the simplest of tap-ins.

Eight minutes later, Belper substitute Niall McNamara proved himself a match-winner within 60 seconds of joining the action.

Capitalising on some sloppy defensive distribution on the edge of the box he rifled a low angled drive into the corner of the net.

Belper's massed ranks easily protected their lead in the closing stages and they might have underlined their victory with a third goal but for Bracey's fine reflex save with his legs from Mark Ward's powerful attempt.

CHORLEY...1 BELPER TOWN...2