THERE was nothing to relieve the gloom hanging over Victory Park in another disappointing performance which brought Chorley a third consecutive defeat at the hands of one of the UniBond First Division's strugglers.

And skipper Paul Fleming only added to the Magpies' problems by talking himself into a red card following a dubious penalty award on 50 minutes.

Simon Marsh saved Karl Payne's ensuing spot-kick but Chorley's reduction to ten men did nothing to help them pull back a goal conceded seconds before half-time, when Brendan Morgan broke clear to beat Marsh with a clever low shot.

David Eatock did in fact come close to equalising with a cracking effort which hit a post but handball by Danny Mills gave Belper a second penalty after 75 minutes.

Payne this time making no mistake from the spot.

A superb strike by Carl Cunningham following a corner five minutes later put the game beyond Chorley.

But the Magpies' ten men stuck bravely to their task and a minute from time Eatock produced his own spot of magic to reduce the arrears with a stunning bicycle-kick.

But it was too little too late for a Chorley team badly in need of strengthening and a greater physical presence before a slump turns into a crisis.

RESULT: BELPER TOWN...3 CHORLEY...1

Chorley are in action against UniBond Premier side and local rivals Accrington Stanley in the UniBond League Cup Group Stages.