Chorley came from behind to inflict defeat upon Moors at Victory Park on Tuesday night to move back into the National League North play-off places.

Graeme Lee’s men went in front early on when Mika Ndjoli escaped in behind the home defence to finish neatly, but The Magpies roared back after the break and took three points thanks to goals from Carlton Ubaezuono and Mike Calveley.

Moors boss Lee made one change to his starting eleven as Sam Fielding was drafted into midfield, while new signing Brad James was among the substitutes.

Fielding almost made an immediate impact when his dangerous corner from the left was flicked on goal at the near post, forcing home keeper Max Dearnely into a sharp reaction save.

However, Lee’s men were in front on 11 minutes. Michael Ledger lifted a ball over the top and Ndjoli scampered in behind the Chorley defence and kept his composure to place a low shot under Dearnley for his second goal in Moors colours.

The hosts tried to respond but the tricky Justin Johnson fired a shot wastefully into the side netting before Adam Henley’s deflected shot from the edge of the box was pushed over by James Montgomery.

Dearnley had to be quick off his line to thwart Evan Khouri as he darted on to a ball over the top, while Montgomery was drawn into action again to paw a Jack Hazlehurst shot away from danger.

Rob Ramshaw nicked possession on the halfway line to set Moors on the attack in the closing stages of the first half, but Ndjoli’s shot was blocked and then Khouri’s follow-up was easily fielded by Dearnley.

Moors were dealt a blow in the early stage of the second period when Callum Ross was forced off with hamstring trouble and Danny Greenfield was introduced.

There was a further setback on 51 minutes when Chorley levelled. Ubaezuono was released in behind as Moors tried to play offside and despite being thwarted by Montgomery at the first time of asking, the Magpies front man reacted quickest and fired home the rebound.

The goal changed the complexion of the game and Chorley got on top, forcing a flurry of corners and pressing Moors back in their own half though Lee’s men defended with determination.

However, they were broken down again on 69 minutes when Adam Blakeman’s corner from the right was whipped into a dangerous area and Calveley rose highest to nod home Chorley’s second goal.

Greenfield tried to muster a reaction when he drove inside from the left to fire a shot just too high, while Ramshaw’s ball over the top presented a half chance for Corey McKeown whose flicked effort dropped wide.

Will Harris came off the bench and steamrollered his way through down the right only to see his low cross diverted into the side netting by a defender at The Magpies saw out six minutes of added time to clinch the points.

Full Time: Chorley 2 Moors 1

Chorley: Dearnley, Henley, Wilson, Ellis (Smith 80), Blakeman, Calveley, Maguire, Glynn (Horbury 78), Johnson (Nolan 90), Ubaezuono, Hazlehurst.
Subs not used: Brindle, Shelton.

Booked: Maguire (36), Horbury (84).

Moors: Montgomery, Ledger, Mbeka, Pollock, Staunton, Ross (Greenfield 47), Fielding, Ramshaw, Chimalilo (McKeown 70), Khouri (Harris 87), Ndjoli.
Subs not used: James, Myers.

Referee: Matthew Scholes

Attendance: 558