Chasetown’s FA Trophy campaign is over for another season after a 4-1 replay defeat by Lancaster City.
Aside from a ten minute period during the second half when Gary Birch pulled a goal back for the home side and his team-mates created yet spurned several more chances, the UniBond Division One North side were on top throughout, with plenty of lively passing on display.
A fairly even start saw the first chance fall to the visitors with Jordan Connerton, the scorer of Saturday’s equaliser, firing over the bar from long range, while Ross Miller did well to halt a run down the left by Dolly Blues skipper Michael Stringfellow.
Chasetown’s first major attack saw the ball taken down the right and squared to Richard Batchelor who fired home, but the flag was up for offside to the Scholars’ frustration.
Ryan Price uncharacteristically spilled a shot from Connerton in the 18th minute but the defence were able to come to the rescue, Chris Horton continuing the excellent form he displayed at the Giant Axe on Saturday.
Birch was next to go close for the Scholars as he rattled Martin Fearon’s crossbar, but it was the visitors who took the lead in the 23rd minute as mistakes by the Chasetown defence let in Connerton for his second goal in four days.
Lancaster continued to make their hosts work hard thereafter, Neil Marshall going close with a header at the far post following a free kick, and the side looked more and more dominant before Roger Sharrock blasted home a low right-footed shot to double their lead on 39 minutes.
The visitors continued precisely where they had left off at half time, and just two minutes after the break were 3-0 ahead with Connerton grabbing his second of the evening.
Chasetown were soon back on it, however, and pulled a goal back in fine style four minutes later as home debutant Alex Titchiner crossed low to Birch who fired home leaving keeper Fearon no chance.
Ben Steane was showing good pace through midfield as the Scholars fought for a second, Dominic Ward heading off the line just past the hour mark and Danny Smith going close just minutes after replacing Titchiner. The striker continued to work hard down the right, even catapulting over the advertising hoardings during one attack.
Batchelor’s 20-yard shot with ten minutes on the clock forced a fine save from Fearon as Chasetown pressed as hard as they could in the closing stages, but Lancaster were soon back on form.
Substitute Adam Farrell had the ball in the net with five minutes to go but was denied by the offside flag, but there was no denying Paul Jarvis seconds later as he capitalised on a mistake by Price to side-foot home the Dolly Blues’ fourth, and Lancaster headed through to face FC United of Manchester in the next round.
Chasetown will now pick themselves up ready to face Loughborough Dynamo at the Scholars Ground on Saturday (October 24), kick-off 3pm.
Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Miller, Milligan, Horton, Steane, Egan (c), Birch, Titchiner, Batchelor. Subs: Bragoli, Saunders, D Smith (Titchiner 61), A Smith, Styche (Milligan 82).
Lancaster: Fearon, Henry, Marshall, Teague, Stringfellow (c), D Ward, Rushton, C Ward, Connerton, Jarvis, Sharrock. Subs: Farrell (Connerton 66), Heffernan, Jackson, Wilson (Rushton 64), Beesley (GK).