Jazz Luckie opens the scoring for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Jazz Luckie opens the scoring for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Jazz Luckie opens the scoring for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

Chasetown FC recorded a vital three points over a play-off rival to extend their unbeaten league run.

It took The Scholars just three minutes to take the lead as Jazz Luckie marked his home debut with a cool run and shot which left Adam Alcock no chance in the Newcastle goal.

Luckie almost made it 2-0 with a mishit shot which bobbled awkwardly for Alcock who stuck out a right hand and just about managed to flick it wide of the post.

The visitors were far from out of the game though and twice struck the frame of the Chasetown goal, once off the bar from a cross and the other a low shot from Joshua Gordon which came back off the post.

Despite conceding those chances, the hosts were looking likely to score every time they went forward and Nick Wellecomme and Jazz Luckie both went close to doubling the lead – with perhaps both making the wrong choices to shoot when, on each occasion, squaring it to their strike partner might have been a better decision.

Lee Butler's strike finds the net. Pic: Dave Birt
Lee Butler’s strike finds the net. Pic: Dave Birt

Newcastle were incensed by the Scholars second goal as it appeared Simon Brown may have controlled the ball with an arm as the attack gained momentum. Brown was allowed to continue though and his cross to the far post was mis-controlled by Lee Butler, though if his first touch let him down a bit, his second didn’t as he thrashed a shot off the inside of the bar and post and over the line with Alcock flat-footed.

A Brown free kick and a drive from Danny Bragoli saw Chasetown end the half on top, though with the chances Newcastle had created, the 2-0 half time score could have been anything from 4-0 to 2-2.

Thomas Unwin's effort finds the net. Pic: Dave Birt
Thomas Unwin’s effort finds the net. Pic: Dave Birt

It was therefore no surprise when the visitors pulled a goal back nine minutes into the second half as Thomas Urwin let fly from range.

In a classic end-to-end game, chances were coming thick and fast for both sides and Ryan Price had to be at his best to keep out a close range header from Matthew Lowe.

Chasetown were dangerous on the counter attack though and Alcock made a great save to deny Wellecomme as the striker broke through the visitors back line.

Both Wellecomme and Luckie had impressed for Chasetown but it was Price who made the strongest claim for man of the match with a double save at the death. It looked certain that Tim Sanders would level the scores but the home keeper got down well to save. It seemed inevitable that Urwin would poke home the rebound but somehow Price managed to keep that out to. literally the last touch of the game as Scholars fans were relieved to hear Mr Fox’s final whistle.

Chasetown: Price, Evans, Beckett, Slater, Robinson, Halsall, Brown, Bragoli (Bennett, 67 mins), Wellecomme, Luckie (Gould, 73 mins), Butler (C Smith, 83 mins). Subs not used: Anslow, Watson.
Newcastle Town: Alcock, J Askey, Sheldon, Ashman, Woolliscroft, Lowe, France, Skelton (Cole, 75 mins), Gordon Sanders, Urwin. Subs not used: L Askey, Lovatt.

Click below to see more of Dave Birt’s pictures from the game: