HYDE UNITED 0 CHORLEY 2 TWO excellent wins on their travels in the past week moved Chorley to a comfortable mid-table position and surely removed any lingering relegation worries.

The Magpies have enjoyed little success in recent seasons at either Marine or Hyde but these back-to-back wins were hard fought and entirely merited.

The midweek trip to Marine saw a game played in torrential rain which got off to a sensational start as Chorley went ahead after just 48 seconds. Marsh hammered a long kick down field, Grunshaw flicked it on and, with the Marine defence caught cold, Swailes raced through to fire past O'Brien.

As if that wasn't enough, Chorley made it two with the clock showing just seven minutes. A right-wing corner was nodded on by Swailes and Allardyce's header hit the back of the net with O'Brien nowhere.

After that blistering start it was mainly backs-to-the-wall stuff for Chorley but the defence was superb with Allardyce, Harold and Jones doing Trojan work. Apart from one shot against the bar, Marsh had few anxious moments and Chorley looked dangerous on the break. Indeed, Swailes had the ball in the net again only for the linesman to rule the ball had crossed the by-line before Critchley crossed it - a hairline decision.

Marine's pressure was as incessant as the rain but Chorley proved equal to it with Marsh handling impeccably in the difficult conditions and Bainbridge's stoppage time consolation goal for the Merseysiders couldn't dampen the celebrations.

However, if the Magpies' fans enjoyed that trip, they probably enjoyed the one to Hyde even more. This was an even better performance by Chorley on another ground which has not traditionally yielded them much success.

Following a bout of flu, Peter Thomson was recalled to the side and his two first half goals proved decisive. The Hyde defence could not cope with the Magpies' striker who was so hot in the first half you could have fried an egg on him.

On 20 minutes Thomson chased Allerdyce's long pass and powered his way past Switzen with sheer pace and strength. As Scargill come out, Thomson stayed cool and slotted his shot through the keeper's legs.

Shortly before half time, Thomson's presence panicked the hapless Switzen into under hitting his back pass to Scargill. Although the keeper half blocked at the striker's feet, Thomson regained both his balance and the ball to roll it into an empty net.

Once again the Magpies' defence coped magnificently with Hyde's attacks, with Marsh dealing with everything that came his way very efficiently and every one working their socks off to ensure the three points.

This Saturday Chorley entertain Frickley Athletic and next Tuesday they travel to Altrincham for the first leg of the League cup semi final.

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