Australian Gregory Downes made a fantastic first start for the Scholars Reserves with a headed brace to help his side beat Boldmere St Michaels.
Downes’ UK tour in search of soccer experience has landed him at Chasetown, where he hopes to remain for at least a season.
Boldmere St Michaels who should have drew first blood in this local derby. They looked certain to go ahead when Leon Weller found Richard Howles unmarked in the six yard area. Howles somehow fumbled his shot and it trickled into the hands of Dale Faultless in the Chasetown goal.
After 14 minutes Chasetown created their first threat. David Bridgewater sent in a dangerous cross exposing the flaws in Boldmere’s defence who breathed a sigh of relief that nobody in a red shirt connected as the ball floated across the goal line.
The Mikes weren’t as fortunate with Bridgwater’s next delivery. Captain Jack Hulin rose high and nodded back across goal towards Downes. The Aussie made no mistake with his powerful header to put the visitors in front.
Being ahead put the Scholars on the front step. Karl Edwards narrowly missed the target trying his luck from 25 yards and keeper James Beeson got in a mess as he let a Drew Aiton’s attempt trickle beneath his body and out for a corner.
In reply, Boldmere’s Richard Howles weaved his way in front of goal and produced a boisterous goal bound drive but Dale Faultless was equal to it by pulling off a remarkable save.
Faultless collected a Franco Omorose drive from the edge of the box and Hulin did well to tackle Aaron Evans as he threatened from the left. Courtney Sowe headed clear the subsequent corner but Howles barged his way back in and fired over as Chasetown clung on until the interval.
Boldmere failed to continue their first half enthusiasm into the second period so the Scholars started pressuring. Downes almost scored a second, his far-post header well saved by Beeson. He was back in the thick of the action again three minutes later, linking up with Chad Degville-Cross before centring for Edwards, whose cheeky chip was cleared off the line by Peter Gould.
Tom Brown set up rookie substitute James Lunn who tested Beeson from 25 yards, before Sowe headed over from a Bridgwater corner as a Chasetown second seemed inevitable.
It came on 70 minutes from the best move of the game. Hulin, Degville-Cross and Bridgwater made ground deep into opposition territory with a string of passes, before the latter completed the advance as his cross picked out Downes who made sure with his second thunderous header of the afternoon.
After this, the pattern of the game changed once more as Boldmere forced their way back in. Johaine Thompson, on as a sub for the hosts, was looking dangerous and tapped agonisingly over from a Weller through ball.
Chasetown broke away and Karl Edwards played a neat one-two with Downes before testing the keeper from 15 yards with a low drive.
Boldmere attacked again, showing a strong will to salvage a point. They put the visitors under pressure when an Andrew Keighley corner gifted a glimpse of goal to Omorose whose volley hit the post.
More moments of concern rippled through Chasetown’s backline when William Capper lined himself up for a sizzling effort which was inches wide.
Then, out of the blue it was all over with two minutes remaining on the clock. Another Boldmere attack was cleared by Wood to substitute Christian Darby. His long ball found fellow sub Craig Deakin who rounded the afternoon off with a sweet drive into the back of the net and Chasetown could relax completely.
The hosts, still showing courage, mustered up one more attack when Joshua O’Reilly burst into the box from the right back position but drove into the side netting.
Next Saturday (October 29) the Scholars entertain Banbury at home in another league encounter.
Chasetown: Faultless, Degville-Cross, Gould (Deakin), Wood, Hulin (Capt.), Sowe, Brown (Darby), Bridgwater, Edwards, D Aiton (Lunn), Downes.
