Chasetown FC produced a strong display to ease into the second round of the Challenge Trophy with a 5-2 win at Boldmere St Michaels.
The first action of the day came when Mark Wiggins had to be alert to cut out a dangerous attempt from distance by Boldmere’s Aaron Evans.
Within a minute play had switched to the opposite end when Danny Smith broke the deadlock, chipping James Beeson from 25 yards as he latched onto a pinpoint pass from David Bridgwater.
In reply, the hosts went close with Johaine Thompson heading wide and then forcing a goal line clearance from Jack Hulin.
The Scholars doubled their lead on 28 minutes. Hulin headed down a Bridgwater corner into a swamp of bodies from which Karl Edwards emerged from the subsequent goal mouth scramble to find the net.
This inspired the Scholars who continued to pressurise in the hope of sealing the tie and they almost did with both Edwards and Bridgwater going close.
Thirty nine minutes in and Boldmere were awarded a penalty when Stu Capaldi was judged to have been impeded in the danger area. Aaron Smith converted to put the Mikes back into the cup tie.
Within five minutes of the second period Chasetown restored their two goal advantage. Chad Degville-Cross showed gritty determination as he won possession and found Theo Robinson. The forward sped into space and beat Beeson with an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
Boldmere refused to yield and former Scholar Kieran Robinson made an impressive run down the left wing and set up Capaidi who volleyed narrowly wide.
Other Boldmere attacks were thwarted by Jamie Aiton and Jonathan Gould but Chasetown still looked comfortable and capable of increasing their lead. Theo Robinson’s shot from deep rebounded off the bar to poacher Edwards who was denied by a sprawling Beeson save. From the resulting Bridgwater corner, Courtney Sowe was unlucky to see his header also smack against the crossbar.
On 70 minutes it was 4-1 to the visitors. Jonathan Gould lofted a high ball to the far post and Degville-Cross was on hand to return a superb cross which was converted by a Bridgwater volley.
Capaidi gave Boldmere a lifeline when he netted on 82 minutes but as time ticked away all their hope faded.
A minute remained of play when Scholars sub Max Black made it five with a long run and shot which left Beeson stranded.
Chasetown: Wiggins, Degville-Cross (Jones), Gould, J Aiton, Hulin, Sowe, Bridgwater, Wood, Edwards, Smith (Robinson), Brown (Black). Subs not used: Rock, Faultless.
