WITH Steve Williams and the newly re-signed David Eatock both injured, the late withdrawal of John Kennedy meant that manager Gerry Luczka had to name reserve 'keeper Marc Threlfall on the bench for the depleted Magpies for this Lancashire derby.

The Stags opened the scoring on eight minutes when a right wing cross was netted by Ben Callon.

The next 30 minutes were even until Magpies assistant boss Kenny Mayers, through on goal, chipped the home keeper from eight yards to even the score.

However, as Chorley have found on more than once occasion this season, when you are down at the bottom of the league, lady luck often deserts you.

And just five minutes after leveling the score Dale went ahead again under controversial circumstances.

The referee awarded a contentious free-kick just outside the area for hand ball.

And the resultant set piece cannoned off the angle of the goal before falling at the feet of predatory striker Phil Eastwood and he gave Danny Hurst no chance from close range.

No sooner had the second half kicked off than Dale were two in front.

Again a refereeing decision went against the Magpies, when a clear penalty award was turned down at one end of the park, the home side then went straight down the other end and Adam Cook made it 3-1.

Chorley continued to fight back, and eventually grabbed what turned out to be a consolation goal in the form of a Sean Wright curling effort.