A solitary goal from substitute Leon Mitchell nine minutes from time ensured that the visitors became the first side to win three points of a Chasetown side for ten consecutive league games writes Russell Brown.
With defender Joe Williams reinstated to the side after his recent injury, manager Charlie Blakemore also brought in Sam Smith and Russell Peel to combat the aerial threat posed by a tall Romulus team.

As expected Romulus came out at Chasetown from the start and Tyrone Fagan was just off target with an early header. Chasetown countered and from a Peel free kick, Vaughan Thomas returned the ball into the area for Kyle Perry to loop a header towards goal that was taken comfortably from beneath the crossbar by Matt Harris.

Smith’s ball in saw Perry again try to set up strike partner Dean Perrow who had wheeled away at the far post, but his header was guided wide of the target.

The visitors did get the ball in the net when the dangerous Lei Brown finished off a move with a low shot to beat Lee Evans; however the referee had already blown for an earlier offence.

Romulus still looked the more threatening and from a swift move down the Chasetown left flank, Seb Hamilton cut inside to fire a rising shot that had Evans beaten but cannoned off the crossbar. The visitors then missed the best chance of the game when a ball played deep to the far post saw Jason Lannis head back across goal and with the Chasetown players drawn out of position, Romulus had two players queuing up to put the final touch. Fortunately for the home side, Ashley Robinson totally missed his kick in front of goal and following in, Fagan hurriedly slammed his effort wide.

It could have been worse had Craig Holland not kept his discipline, defending on the line from a Brown corner; the Chasetown player getting his head to a towering Fagan header to save the home side with a goal line clearance.

After the break only an amazing double save from Evans prevented another Romulus effort from finding the target; the keeper getting a superb block to deny Richard Batchelor, then recovering to turn the follow up from Robinson over the bar. Lannis then struck the bar for a second time after the midfielder was set up by Nick Heath’s strong run on the right.

Against the run of play, Chasetown created two good chances to grab the lead. Peel’s persistence saw the defender cut back the ball for Perrow, who from tem yards out, crashed the opportunity over the bar. Then from a blocked effort from Perrow the ball fell invitingly for Perry and the big centre forward struck a fierce drive that saw Harris in action for the first time, turning aside the on target effort.

The goal that the visitors had threatened all game came in the 81st minute. Substitute Leon Mitchell going on a strong run on the Chasetown left. The striker cut inside to look up and curl a precise shot from the edge of the area that swerved past Evans into the far corner of the net.

Despite enduring a marathon FA Cup replay in midweek, Romulus comfortably saw out the remainder of the game and deservedly took the applause at the final whistle from both sets of supporters. Chasetown now have to put that set back aside as they travel to Midland Football Alliance side Rochester for the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

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

Other Subs: Twigger, Thompson (not used)