Dave Egan’s second half hat-trick helped Chasetown FC on their way to a 5-2 success at Mickleover Sports FC in their FA Carlsberg Trophy tie.

Chasetown's Gary Hay reels away after scoring. Pic: Dave Birt
Chasetown's Gary Hay reels away after scoring. Pic: Dave Birt

This was a proper cup tie with fast-flowing end to end play and a plethora of chances for both sides, with the advantage chopping and changing until the Scholars took control in the second half.

Chasetown were in the lead after just four minutes when a free kick was backheaded towards goal by Gary Birch and as the hosts appealed for offside, leading scorer Gary Hay added to his tally for the season by steering a shot around keeper Chris Dodsley.

Mickleover’s danger man Kyle Steadman departed with a hamstring injury after only 16 minutes, and five minutes after this a mix-up between Richard Teesdale and keeper Ryan Price saw the latter bring down Kieran O’Connell and Sports were awarded a penalty. Price redeemed himself for the error by diving to save Danny Martin’s spot kick, and Mark Branch reacted quickly to blast the rebound away for a corner.

On 27 minutes a poor clearance from Jimmy Turner handed the home side a chance, and O’Connell fired a right-footed shot home off the far post from the edge of the area to level the score and leave the tie finely poised at half time.

Mickleover took the lead three minutes after the break when O’Connell side-footed home his second from an Eric Graves cross, but their lead would last only seven minutes before Egan smashed a Teesdale cross home from an acute angle into the far corner of the net.

Ben Jevons rifles home an unstoppable shot for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Ben Jevons rifles home an unstoppable shot for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

On 64 minutes Hay cut the ball back to Ben Jevons on the edge of the area and the latter beat Dodsley with a low right-footed drive to restore the Scholars’ lead.

Chasetown's Dave Egan celebrates with Ramone Stephens. Pic: Dave Birt
Chasetown's Dave Egan celebrates with Ramone Stephens. Pic: Dave Birt

Despite Hay departing with a wrist injury the fired-up visitors were now in control and enjoyed plenty more chances, and on 83 minutes Egan received a cross from welcome returnee Dean Perrow and hammered the ball home from an even more acute angle than his first goal for Chasetown’s fourth.

In the dying seconds Egan completed his hat-trick in style as he headed a Dave Bridgewater cross into the roof of the net, and the Scholars progressed following a cracking afternoon’s entertainment.

Next up for the Scholars is a local derby against Hednesford Town in the Staffordshire Senior Cup this Tuesday night (November 2), 7.45pm kick-off, and supporters are reminded that there is no first team game next Saturday as scheduled opponents FC United of Manchester are involved in FA Cup action.

Mickleover: Dodsley, Chambers, Martin, Walshe (c), Everett-Elliott, Roone, Graves, Bailey, Ashton, O’Connell, Steadman.  Subs: Strzyzewski, Smythe (Steadman 16), Cooper-Richards, Hoyle, Eley.
Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Turner, Bridgewater, Teesdale (c), Stephens, Egan, Birch, Hay, Jevons.  Subs: Ryan, Parsons, Edwards, Cohen, Perrow (Hay 77).

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Hat-trick hero believes dressing room banter is key to Chasetown FC’s form - The Lichfield Blog
13 years ago

[…] The Scholars have exceeded all expectations to sit firmly in the top half of the table and have progressed to the next stage of the FA Trophy with a 5-2 win at Mickleover Sports. […]