THE Magpies had to settle for a point at the death in a thrilling 3-3 draw at South Shields on Saturday afternoon, Sam Hodgson's late equaliser after Mark Ellis thought he'd scored the winner after 70 minutes.
Chorley hit the front early on, ten minutes in and Kole Hall had the opening goal after Mark Ellis's headed flick put it on the plate for the Bermudan International to head home from close range.
The Magpies wouldn't rest on their lead and five minutes later had their second, a sublime finish from Momodou Touray to strike the ball first time after George Horbury won the ball back fantastically in midfield before turning provider to Touray.
Momodou Touray celebrates his goal for the Magpies (David Airey)
Matt Urwin had one first-half save to make, a fantastic one at that, denying Mackenzie Heaney's wicked, curling shot from distance.
Hall had two more half-chances to extend the Magpies' advantage before the break, first, denied by an unbelievable, last-ditch tackle from Jid Okeke before seeing his shot from the edge of the box well saved by Kyle Seymour.
The hosts would come out firing after the restart and quickly halved the deficit, Heaney, this time making no mistake as he rifled another shot from range, this time beating Urwin and into the far-corner.
Four minutes later and the hosts got themselves back on terms, Sam Hodgson getting on the end of a dangerous cross from the right to set up a thrilling climax to the game.
Mark Ellis then continued his fantastic goalscoring form to hand Preece's side back the lead, heading in from another fantastic Adam Blakeman cross.
Chorley looked like they'd be heading back to Lancashire with all three points, that until Hodgson bundled the ball in from a cross from the right to earn Elliot Dickman's side a point on Tyneside.
Goals: Hall (10'), Touray (15'), Ellis (70').
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Ellis, Wilson, Blakeman (Smith, 90+1'), Calveley, Nolan, Horbury, Clarke, Hall (Rice, 87'), Touray (Carr, 69').
Attendance: 1952.
