The home side started brightly against the Division 1 South league leaders and deservedly took the lead after just 11 minutes. Nick Wellecomme flicked the ball into the part of Richard Davies who took a touch and casually dinked the ball over visiting keeper Ryan Boot – his second FA Trophy goal of the season.
Chasetown doubled their advantage just after the midway point of the first half when a set piece wasn’t cleared by the visitors and Leon Miles netted his first goal for the club with a thumping volley into the roof of the net.
Newcastle had to do something and shuffled the pack at half time bringing on two substitutes to try and change the course of the game.
The pressure from the visitors started to give them control of the game and it was no surprise when they reduced the arrears in the 70th minute. Following a goalmouth scramble, substitute Neville Thompson – who had scored a hat-trick against Chasetown two seasons ago – again netted against the Scholars, firing home from close range.
Newcastle had a great opportunity to level when Thompson fired beyond Bateman but somehow Jon Haynes got back to clear off the line when it seemed certain to be 2-2.
Chase keeper John Bateman then made a splendid finger-tip save over the crossbar to deny Jordan Cole as the visitors ended the game strongly, but it was the home side who held out and whose name will be in the draw for the next round.
Chasetown: Bateman, Evans, Haynes, Johnson, Miles, Downes, Butler (Brown, 67 mins), Parsons, Wellecomme, Davies, Edwards (McDonald, 82 mins). Subs not used: Lees, Waite, Robinson.
Newcastle Town: Boot, Askey, Bridge, Ashman, Carter, Low (Sanders, HT), Gordon (Thompson, HT), Osbourne, Cole, Urwin, France. Subs not used: Moores, Dickin.
Click below to see more of Dave Birt’s pictures:
