Chasetown FC survived a late surge from Evo-Stik Southern Premier side St Neots to progress to the next round of the FA Trophy.
The visitors average three goals in a game in the league and hit the post after just a minute as the Cambridgeshire side started favourites.
The visitors looked unsettled however following an error by goalkeeper Michael Duggan after five minutes when he needlessly conceded a corner from a Gary Hay shot which he should’ve held comfortably at his near post.
Chasetown took inspiration from the error and went ahead after ten minutes when Duggan was in no-man’s land rushing out from his goal and Gary Hay coolly lobbed the onrushing keeper.
The Scholars will consider themselves fortunate to be awarded a penalty after 17 minutes. It didn’t look as if the referee was going to award a spot kick when the ball bounced up off Arthur Lee’s foot and struck his hand. However, his assistant referee put his flag confidently across his chest and the penalty was awarded. Simon Brown, who netted from the spot in midweek, confidently converted.
Chasetown were rampant and only a clearance off the line from Gavin Hoyte prevented Andy Westwood from making it 3-0.
In a one-sided first half, St Neots token effort since the first minute resulted from a miscued header from Richard Teesdale and Jack Werndly’s effort was kicked away by Lee Evans.
Chasetown increased their lead eight minutes into the second half. After a neat pass from Andy Westwood, Gary Hay embarked on a surging run towards the penalty area, only to be illegally stopped in his tracks right on the edge of the box. Simon Brown, for the second time this week notched his second goal, with a delightful curling free-kick low past a flat-footed Duggan.
Evans made a splendid near post save to deny Dan Jacob but it was the Scholars who looked more likely to add to their tally, with substitute Paul Sullivan firing narrowly over the crossbar and then he appeared to be fouled inside the area, but this time the ref ignored penalty appeals.
The Cambridgeshire side pulled a goal back 17 minutes from time through a flicked header from Dan Jacob from close range following a neat cut back by former Aston Villa and Walsall man Stefan Moore.
Then, at the start of stoppage time, St Neots were themselves awarded a spot-kick for handball. It was too little too late for St Neots, as Chasetown goalkeeper Evans guessed the right way but Ollie Thorne’s penalty beat him into the top corner.
Thankfully for Chasetown, there was no time for any further attempts at goal from the Southern League Premier side and Craig Harris’ men progress to the Second Qualifying round in late-October.
Chasetown: Evans, Downes, Jackson, Slater, Bate, Teesdale, Smith, Westwood (Maguire, 61 mins), Hay, Wellecomme (Sullivan, 31 mins), Brown.
St Neots Town: Duggan, Duncliffe, Rogers, Thorne, Hoyte, Lee, Hilliard, Stewart (Adjei, HT), Moore, Werndly (Manangu, 83 mins), Jacob.
Click below to see more of Dave Birt’s pictures from the game: