Northwich Victoria blew Chasetown away in a five-minute second half spell that turned the game in the Doodson Sport League Cup.
A quiet first half saw the Scholars play the majority of the attacking play, but the best two chances fell to the visitors with Mariusz Kisiel tipping over a Gary McEvatt effort and matching it with another save from beneath his bar to deny Danny Wisdom.
Vics had an effort from Joe Bunney cleared off the line early in the second period before Chasetown took a 55th minute lead against the run of the early second half play.
Skipper for the night Dave Bate crossed from the right and Daniel Dubidat dived in to head beyond Tom Newton for his first ever goal in his first start since 2007.
But three minutes later, the Vics were level. Conor Roberts’ shot was deflected out for a corner and Paul Mooney’s kick to the near post was misjudged by Mariusz Kisiel under pressure from Danny Wisdom.
The visitors took the game by the scruff of its neck and took the lead just over a minute later. Joe Bunney floated over the cross and McEvatt powered home a header.
In the blink of an eye, Victoria had turned the game on its head with a third goal in quick succession. Roberts slipped the ball into Bunney given acres of space by the Scholars back line and he neatly slotted the ball home.
Dubidat forced Newton into a good save as Chasetown tried to recover from the shock of conceding the lead so quickly.
Manager Craig Harris made all three of his substitutions but by now the damage was done and Northwich were in firm control of the tie.
Chasetown looked shell-shocked and it was no surprise when the Vics added two further goals.
In the 85th minute, substitute Alex Taylor cut the Chasetown defence open with a through ball and fellow substitute Scott Harries drove a low shot across Kisiel into the corner.
Two minutes later, the home side were well and truly beaten. Taylor again found Harries who showed great composure to round Kisiel and roll the ball into an empty net.
Chasetown: Kisiel, Downes, Branch, Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Bate, Ashton (Clarke-O’Connell, 78mins), Saunders (Westwood, 65 mins), Wellecomme, Dubidat, Theo Robinson (Gould, 78mins). Subs not used: Bryan, Teesdale.
Northwich Victoria: Newton, El-Harrati, Mooney, Qualter, Mercer, Butler, Roberts (Harries, 78 mins), McEvatt (Taylor, 78 mins), Bunney, Amis, Wisdom. Sub not used: Kilford.
Click below to see more of Dave Birt’s pictures from the game:
