STRUGGLING UniBond League new boys Kidsgrove Athletic were no match for Mark Molyneaux's revitalised Chorley at Victory Park on Saturday, failing to make an impression as the hosts cemented their own First Division top four placing.

For all their possession Kidsgrove, led by player-boss Dave Nolan, lacked a cutting edge, and despite a promising start and the potential of main threat Darren Twigg and inspirational skipper Paul Robertson the home team soon began to run the show.

The Magpies pulled away on the stroke of 30 minutes, as skipper Paul Varley set up Lee Wilkinson and despite keeper Chris Grassie's stop Ian Barker was on hand to net the opener. Within five minutes Chorley doubled their lead with a great goal starting when David Eatock picked up the ball well within his own half after Varley cleared a visitors' attack.

Eatock took on and beat several players before the ball travelled to Chris Patterson and Darren Emmett before Wilkinson crossed for Eatock to finish in style.

The match never really hit that height again, and although the Staffordshire outfit attempted to pull back keeper Molyneaux and his sturdy central defence dealt competently with Nolan's basement battlers.

And the final word went to sub David Lowe, who was on hand at the back post for a third in added time after Varley's cross-come-shot evaded the visitors' defence following a quick counter-attack.

CHORLEY...3 KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC...0