Chasetown FC warmed up nicely for their FA Carlsberg Trophy replay with a 4-2 win at Ossett Town.
The visitors dominated possession for most of the first half, but a suspected hamstring injury to Dean Perrow shortly before the break cast a shadow over the proceedings. This appeared to affect them for much of the second half as Ossett drew level, but the Scholars regained control comfortably in the closing stages.
Before a small crowd, welcome returnee John Branch and Ben Jevons both enjoyed early chances before on 15 minutes the latter put the Scholars in front. A through ball from Ramone Stephens was fired goalwards left-footed and though it bounced off both keeper Neil Bennett and defender Jacob Lawlor on its way into the net, Jevons was credited with the goal.
Perrow saw a cross blocked two minutes later but the striker doubled the visitors’ lead on 25 minutes when he picked up a peach of a pass from Stephens and rifled a left-footed shot past the diving Bennett.
The two-goal cushion lasted a mere five minutes before a corner was headed out only as far as Town midfielder David Cyrus and Scholars keeper Ryan Price could only help his left-footed shot into the net.
Perrow then limped off on 37 minutes and was replaced by new signing Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick, who joined the Scholars on Friday from Skelmersdale United, but the visitors still held the clear advantage for the rest of the half.
Five minutes after the break the home side were level when skipper David Boardman swivelled expertly in front of goal and beat the diving Price with a right-footed shot.
Price made a fine save at full stretch to prevent Shane Kelsey putting Ossett in front on 69 minutes, and Chasetown made heavy weather of the proceedings until Gary Birch took the ball around Bennett as he scrambled on all fours on 79 minutes. The striker’s shot was headed off the line by the Ossett defence but only as far as Steve Abbott who gratefully drove home the Scholars’ third.
In stoppage time Birch made it safe following an exchange of passes with Danny Smith and fired Chasetown’s fourth into the corner of the net to seal a fine victory.
Next up is the big one at Mansfield Town on Tuesday night (March 8), kicking off at 7.45pm at Field Mill. Coaches for supporters leave the Scholars Ground at 5.30pm and seats are still available at £8 per person.
If the Scholars are successful they will host Luton Town in the first leg of the semi-finals of the FA Carlsberg Trophy next Saturday. If they are not, they will host Mickleover Sports in the Evo-Stik Premier League at the Scholars Ground on Thursday March 10 (7.45pm) and travel to Burscough on Saturday (3pm).
Ossett: Bennett, Henson, Penn, Harding, Lawlor, Cyrus, Sheriff, Clapham, Boardman, Kelsey, Facey. Subs: Kemp, Hopcutt (Clapham 51), Wilson, Cook (Facey 85), Stirland (Kelsey 79).
Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Cohen, Abbott, Teesdale (c), Stephens, Parsons, Birch, Perrow, Jevons. Subs: Turner, Smith (Lloyd-McGoldrick 75), Bridgewater (Jevons 53), Peel, Lloyd-McGoldrick (Perrow 36).