Although Chasetown were in control for the majority of the game through a scrappy 24th minute goal that separated the teams for long periods of the tie, the game burst into life in the final quarter and had a real twist to the end writes Russell Brown.

With striker Danny Smith out due to an injured collarbone, Kyle Perry stepped up for his full league debut for the Blues and defender Kevin Thompson retained his place in the defence with Joe Williams still out through injury. That apart, manager Charlie Blakemore was able to field the side that had notched up four straight league victories as the Scholars looked to take their league form into the FA Cup competition for the first time this season.

The home side enjoyed the majority of the early possession, but Leicestershire based Oadby were proving a difficult side to break down. Perry was maintaining his aerial presence, winning the first two headed duels, but strike partner Perrow was not yet tuned into the big centre forwards flick ons and the danger to the Poachers defence was not apparent in the early stages.

From Chasetown’s first corner Ben Steane’s in swinging flag kick clipped the crossbar and the resultant bounce did not favour the waiting strikers as the ball span out for a goal kick. However, from Steane’s next attempt the home side scrambled in the first goal. The Oadby defence missed the ball at the far post and with Nick Hawkins, Kyle Perry and Perrow all taking swings at the loose ball, it was finally adjudged to have crossed the line with Perrow getting the accreditation from the referee.

Paul Spacey should have added second moments later, but the defender, who was left alone at the far post, seemingly had too much time to decide how to finish and eventually planted his effort straight at Laurie Pearson.

Oadby’s main threat was from set pieces and twice David Fisher rocketed over the target from centrally placed free kick to waste his side’s best chances.

With Chasetown looking more hungry after the break, the visitors somehow kept their deficit down to just that single goal after a Perrow cross from the right was horribly sliced towards his own goal by Joe Latham and with Pearson committed, diving the wrong way, the keeper amazingly managed to twist his body around to head over his own crossbar to save his defenders blushes.

However, in the 71st minute Pearson was the villain for the visitors as he took the legs of Perrow as the striker easily bypassed the keeper in the area. The penalty was clear cut as was the execution of the spot kick as Perrow confidently powered in the ball from the twelve yard mark.

Ten minutes later, Oadby were handed a lifeline in the tie. Another Fishers free kick, this time take from the left of the box, caught out Lee Evans who could only spill the ball out and from close range substitute Tom Dowsing blasted in the rebound.

Any hopes of a fight back were immediately quashed by the award of a second penalty for the home side as they flew straight back up field after that setback. Perrow again found his legs whipped away from him in the area by Lee Miveld and the defender found himself swiftly following Pearson in the referee’s book for his indiscretion. Perrow calmly crashed the ball past Pearson to record his first hat-trick for the club and his ninth goal in just five outings.

Craig Holland put the seal on a powerful second half performance for the Scholars as he jinxed his way into the area and slotted in from a narrow angle for Chasetown’s fourth a minute from time. But the substitute’s celebrations did not go down well with the Oadby contingent and when Pearson stupidly threw the ball at the head of the innocent Kyle Perry that sparked ugly scenes with both teams piling in.

After order had been restored, Oadby saw out the remainder of the tie with just nine men as Pearson and Miveld were red carded for their part in the fracas.

Chasetown: Evans, Spacey, Branch, Slater, Thomas, Thompson, Steane (Holland), Parsons, Perry, Perrow (McMahon), Hawkins (Smith)

Other Subs: Peel, Twigger (not used)