Harrogate Town gained a measure of revenge for last season’s defeat with a 1-0 win in a bruising encounter at Victory Park, Chorley.
Simon Weaver named an unchanged starting eleven and loan signing,Tom Platt was given a place on the bench.
Town suffered an early blow when Jack Emmett was injured in a heavy tackle by Paul Jarvis and had to be replaced shortly afterwards by Joe Colbeck.
Two evenly matched sides exchanged blow for blow as they sought to establish superiority.
For the Magpies,Josh Hine headed a deep James Dean cross over Town’s bar and an Andy Bond free kick sailed past the upright.
Town were creating chances of their own and a towering header from Danny Ellis found Dom Knowles on the right flank,he cut inside and his curler just missed the far post.
Andy McWilliam and Cecil Nyoni combined to create space for Brendan Daniels on the left,but his cross was driven wide by Colbeck.
The only goal of the game arrived on thirtyeight minutes when Daniels headed a Colbeck centre back across goal and Paul Clayton blasted the ball past Sam Ashton from the edge of the six yard box.
Dom Knowles spurned a chance to make it two when sent clear by Clayton,but his lob lacked elevation and Ashton made an easy catch.
Chorley started the second half all guns blazing and forced Town back with a series of corners.
From one, Kieran Charnock found Chris Doyle but he skied well over Town’s bar.
A Dean header appeared to be heading for the top corner,but Chorley’s joy was stifled,as Peter Crook pulled out a magnificent save to claw the ball away.
Andy Bond drove a free kick wide after Nyoni fouled Dale Whitham and Referee.Richard Wild earned the opprobrium of the home crowd when he waved away claims for a penalty.
However,Town were looking dangerous on the break and Clayton shot straight at Ashton when well placed.
As the game entered added time Colbeck had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed when a diagonal ball from Knowles left him one on one with Ashton,but the keeper spread himself well to block Colbeck’s sidefoot.
Town move up th third in the table,but unfortunately will carry several injuries into Monday’s clash with Bradford P A.
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner, McWilliams, 4 Thirlwell (c) (Platt 55), 5 Shiels, 6 Ellis, 7 Emmett (Colbeck 12), 8 Nyoni, 9 Clayton, 10 Knowles, 11 Daniels (Swain71).
Unused subs,12 Thewlis, 17 Kerry.
Scorer Clayton 38, Booking Knowles Att, 1033
By John Harrison.
