MANAGER Mark Molyneaux rang the changes to give several players on the fringe of his Chorley squad a full game in this UniBond League Challenge Cup first round tie.

The Magpies on duty were made to work hard for victory by their local rivals.

The resulting match was a scrappy cup-tie in which seven players were cautioned by an officious referee, the final whistle signalling an unseemly melee as the frustration of Bridge centre-back Simon Woodward in particular reached boiling-point.

After Bridge's Steve Shepherd had seen a good early effort blocked following a smart run and cross by Andy Farley, Chorley pressed strongly but Darren Emmett and Ian Bold were both off target from within striking range.

However, a cool piece of finishing by Emmett settled the tie after 35 minutes.

Andy Mason just got the first touch in a race for possession with keeper Cyril Shorrock on the edge of the box and the ball broke to Emmett 25 yards out who promptly floated it unerringly into an empty net.

Shortly after the break, Danny Kent just failed to bundle in an inviting Emmett cross at the back post and the Magpies had plenty of defending to do as Bridge moved the ball around neatly without finding the killer pass.

The visitors looked to have equalised when Stuart Honour forced home an inswinging corner but the effort was disallowed for a foul on keeper Chris Clarke.

The niggling exchanges prevented the game from really flowing as the yellow cards accumulated but David Lowe was desperately unlucky to see a cracking 30-yard drive hit the Bridge crossbar with Shorrock well beaten and in the closing minutes Emmett's raking angled shot flashed just outside the far post.

Though the game was one to be quickly forgetten at least the Chorley manager's selection gamble paid off against spirited opponents.

CHORLEY...1 BAMBER BRIDGE...0