Scholars see off Rothwell after extra time

Oct 1 2008

ROTHWELL TOWN 2 CHASETOWN 5 (aet, full time 2-2), FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY, TUESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

A LENGTHY FA Cup replay saw Chasetown eventually progress to the third qualifying round after a 5-2 victory at Rothwell Town on Tuesday night, scoring three goals in extra time, writes Dave Goddard.

The home side were unchanged from their 1-1 draw at the Scholars Ground on Saturday, while Chasetown brought in Craig Holland and Lee Parsons in place of Wayne Dyer and Danny Smith, both of whom dropped to the bench.

The Scholars made the brighter start, their first chance coming on six minutes when a Harry Harris free kick was sent just wide of the post by Parsons, before the former dispossessed Rob Maddox on the left only for keeper Alex Molong to push his effort round the post.

The visitors dominated the first half, but had only one goal to show for it. On 14 minutes Holland picked up a loose ball 30 yards out and strode forward, rounding the keeper and calmly slotting the ball into the net.

After 25 minutes the impressive Gary Birch passed well to Dean Perrow whose cross was just too high for John Branch to head home, before the star striker had a low shot saved by Molong and sent the ball across the face of goal for Holland to attempt a header, but the keeper got there first.

The half-time break was lengthened to 25 minutes as referee Porter had suffered an ankle injury, and eventually a replacement was found and substitute referee Wetherall led the teams back out. With the possibility of extra time and penalties, the crowd prepared for a late night.

The Bones fought back in style for much of the second half, although the majority of the chances still fell to Chasetown. On 79 minutes Perrow pushed the ball through to Mark Branch, whose legs were taken from under him by Maddox as he prepared to shoot and a penalty was awarded. Perrow sent the spot kick to the goalkeeper’s right, but the diving Molong palmed the ball round the post.

Three minutes later, the hosts were level through a penalty of their own. Richard Teesdale was adjudged to have headed the ball onto his own hand, and Peter Sneddon sent Scholars keeper Ryan Price the wrong way for the equaliser.

This was the spark the match needed, and on 88 minutes Perrow found the target at last, glancing a Mark Branch corner home from a tight angle at the near post. Rothwell weren’t finished yet, however, and in the last minute Maddox popped up unchallenged to head home a David Glass free kick for 2-2 and extra time.

Just two minutes after the kick-off, the Scholars were ahead again when a long ball from their defence caught out the Bones and allowed Perrow to touch past the keeper, with super sub Tony Onokah beating a defender on the line to score.

Chasetown then continued to pile on the pressure, and just after the sides changed ends Perrow sent Onokah into the area, and after his shot was blocked John Branch drove the ball low past the home defence on the line.

Two minutes later Parsons sprayed a long ball from one side of the park to the other into Perrow’s path, and the “Goal Machine” calmly lobbed the keeper as he came out to challenge, the ball going in off the post for the Scholars’ fifth.

Chasetown will visit Evesham United in the third qualifying round after the Worcestershire side won their replay at Nuneaton Town 2-1, the tie taking place on Saturday October 11th.

The Scholars have no fixture this Saturday, but instead will visit Sutton Coldfield Town on Tuesday October 7th. Kick-off at Coles Lane is at 7.30pm.

Rothwell: Molong, Wilkinson, Hackett, Marlow, Flannigan (C), Pownell, Maddox, Sneddon, Difante, Byrne, Glass. Subs: Bridgeford, F Koriya (Hackett 87), R Koriya, Cerreli, Marshall (Pownell 101), Smith.

Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, A Smith (C), Thomas, Teesdale, Holland, Parsons, Birch, Perrow, H Harris. Subs: Dyer (H Harris 70), D Smith, Miller, Onokah (Birch 83), Evans, P Harris (Perrow 111).

Scorers

Rothwell: Sneddon 82pen, Maddox 90.

Chasetown: Holland 12, Perrow 88, 108, Onokah 92, J Branch 106.

Referee: Mr W Porter/Mr M Wetherall.

Bookings

Rothwell: None.

Chasetown: Parsons 58 – foul on Sneddon, J Branch 61 – taking too long over throw-in.