Hednesford Town were able to earn a point from their trip to Chorley in a game that swung one way and then another, following four second half goals.
After an even opening, ten minutes into the game Chorley had the first half chance when Josh Hine found James Dean but the striker fired over the bar.
In the 25th minute Pitmen midfielder Tom Thorley beat two men but his low shot lacked any real power and was claimed by the home goalkeeper Sam Ashton.
Three minutes later a whipped ball into the Hednesford box picked out Dean but he ‘whistled’ his header over the bar.
The home side then created two good chances as first Harry Winter fired just wide of the upright before Darren Stephenson was denied by a good save from Hednesford shot stopper Lloyd Ransome in the 39th minute.
The last effort on target before the half-time whistle came was from the away side when defender Matt Regan strode forward, only to see his well struck effort saved by Ashton.
Much like the first period, the start to the second half was a quiet one and although Hednesford had plenty of the ball, they only had one effort from Ben Bailey, which went well over the bar, to show for their efforts.
It would be the Pitmen that would finally take the lead in the 63rd minute though. As the ball broke in the box for Andy Todd, he managed to pick out Adam Thomas who headed home despite the best efforts of the Chorley goalkeeper Ashton.
Hednesford looked comfortable with their lead, although they had a let off with 15 minutes to go when Ransome punched an initial cross clear, only for the ball back in to find Hine who headed into the side netting.
It was just a temporary reprieve though, as the home side drew level after 78 minutes in somewhat controversial circumstances. As a ball was pumped into the box, Ransome claimed it before being fouled, however with no whistle forthcoming and the goalkeeper having lost the ball, Marcus Carver was left with an unguarded net to fire home.
Disaster then struck for Town three minutes later as a Stephenson cross into the box found an unmarked Hine, who was left with a simple header into the net.
The Pitmen didn’t let their heads drop though and after Kyle Perry was fouled, Sean Williams lifted in an inviting free-kick which was powered home by the head of Kennedy Digie.
As the game edged towards a conclusion, both sides continued to push for a winner and Ransome came out well to claim a ball at Carver’s feet while at the other end Thorley fired low into Ashton’s hands after being played in by Perry.
In the end though, both sides had to settle for a point from an encounter which only really came to life in the final 15 minutes.
Chorley: Ashton, Ross, Jarvis, Teague, Charnock (Doyle 55), Cottrell, Hine, Winter (Carver 66), Dean, Bond, Stephenson
Subs not used: Guy, Lynch, Dodd
Hednesford Town: Ransome, Digie, Regan, Bailey, T Williams, Trainer, S Williams, Thorley, Obeng (Perry 82), Thomas, Todd (Modest 82)
Subs not used: Ennis, James, Patterson
Attendance: 1,057
Star Man: Tom Thorley
Entertainment Rating: Three Stars
