Chasetown FC’s penultimate away fixture of the Evo-Stik League season saw plenty of action and chances as the Scholars secured a 1-1 draw at Northwich Victoria.
A second half penalty from captain Richard Teesdale prevented the Vics from sealing all three points after they had forged ahead early on when Andy Fowler steered the ball past the outstretched hand of Ryan Price on six minutes.
Prior to the goal, Chasetown’s first chance came in the very first minute when Ben Jevons headed on a free kick from Mark Branch but keeper James Spencer was able to gather.
The Scholars tried their hardest to turn things around and enjoyed several attacks, Jevons forcing Spencer to dive low to save on 11 minutes while the Branch brothers worked hard to feed the front line, but the Vics would keep the pressure on with Price saving Wayne Riley’s long range effort and Fowler hitting the side netting among their chances, John Branch then clearing a dangerous-looking cross from the left.
Chasetown played good pass-and-move football for much of the half but no goal was forthcoming.
Ramone Stephens was introduced after the break and his typically rapid pace made an instant impact, firstly combining with Gary Birch to set up Jevons but his shot was blocked and Spencer plucked away the resulting corner.
After Jevons and Teesdale blocked two further Northwich attacks the visitors began to press harder for an equaliser, Stephens and Birch again combining well in the 68th minute but Spencer collected the ball at the second attempt.
The threatened equaliser finally arrived on 77 minutes after a foul in the box saw the Scholars awarded a penalty. Their fortunes have been mixed this season when it comes to spot kicks, but on this occasion their luck was in and skipper Teesdale fired the ball low to Spencer’s right to draw his side level.
Both sides pushed hard for a winner in the closing ten minutes, a Northwich shot blocked by the Chasetown defence for a corner on 82 minutes, but no further attempts on goal could be forced and honours were shared.
Chasetown host FC United of Manchester at the Scholars Ground this Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Northwich: Spencer, Disney, Short, Collins, Monteiro (c), Summerskill, Riley, Roddy, Clarke, Woolfe, Fowler. Subs: Ryan (Fowler 75), T Evans, Barnes, Fitzpatrick (Summerskill 86), R Evans (Disney 19).
Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Turner, Teesdale (c), Davies, Egan, Birch, Morris, Jevons. Subs: Smith, Stephens (Morris 46), Parsons, Hay, Farmer.
