IN what was almost an action replay of their midweek FA Trophy disappointment, the Magpies again succumbed to a single goal after having 70 per cent of the play in this low-key UniBond first division clash.

They lost a great opportunity to gain an early grip on the match when Andy Mason missed a fifth minute penalty, awarded for handball, when keeper Chris Gressie diverted the ball over the bar with his trailing leg after chancing a dive to his right. Minutes later ex-Magpie Danny Worthington was inches off-target with a shot at the Chorley goal. However, it was Chorley who applied the greater pressure, Danny Kent's 25-yards volley flashing narrrowly over the bar and Lee Wilkinson heading a corner just over the angle. Kidsgrove snatched the lead on 47 minutes when Darren Twigg's cross was helped on by ex-Hyde player-manager David Nolan for Darryl Wilkes to beat Mark Molyneaux with a fine cross-shot.

The Magpies, however, were soon back on the offensive but from Wilkinson's prompting David Eatock headed weakly at the keeper and then Anthony Hogan fired wildly over from ten yards. Eatock missed two further chances before the introduction of substitute Ian Barker saw the Chorley substitute shoot just wide after a strong run.

In the last ten minutes the Magpies laid siege to the Kidsgrove goalmouth but without result.

But in a rare Kidsgrove breakaway, Worthington ought to have gained a penalty when he was bowled over by the advancing Molyneaux but the referee waved aside understandable home protests.

It would be more disturbing if Chorley weren't creating openings but manager Molyneaux's pressing poser is to hit on the right strike-force to put the chances away, starting with tomorrow's important home game against third-placed Matlock Town.

A big plus from an otherwise frustrating afternoon was the assured display of young centre-back Lee Molyneux, restored to the team in the absence of the suspended pairing of Billy McCartney and Ian Leather.

KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC...1 CHORLEY...0