The opening 15 minutes were bereft of chances, the only effort coming when Dean Perrow put through Craig Hancox after five minutes, but Karl Edwards could not get close enough as Hancox’s cross rolled across the goalmouth.

Goodrich’s Patrick Bannister beat four Chasetown defenders with a good solo run three minutes later, but a combination of headers from home skipper Kevin Thompson and Russell Peel cleared his effort for a corner.
Peel displayed some good pace down the left flank, but still the Scholars were unable to break through, with Paul Spacey’s low effort saved well by Goodrich keeper Gavin Jones on 17 minutes.

The home side increased their movements in midfield as the first half progressed, and the deadlock was broken after half an hour when Edwards won the ball on the edge of the box, his high shot looping past Jones into the net.

The visitors fought back rapidly, with Steven Hill cutting in from the left hand side only for his effort to be saved by reliable home keeper Matt Sargeant.

On 42 minutes, the Scholars’ lead was doubled when Sam Smith ghosted into the Goodrich area to put a close-range effort past Jones.
The home side kept the pressure on after the break, with Edwards carving round the Goodrich defence just after the hour mark to rifle a left-footed shot in from the edge of the area, the ball deflecting off Wayne Hughes before heading goalwards. Jones got a hand to it, but there was no stopping Chasetown’s third.

From then on, it was Chasetown all the way. Smith put away another close-range effort on 68 minutes for his second and the home side’s fourth, while Perrow made numerous raids forward but was denied at the death every time.

John Branch and Spacey were replaced by Daniel Dubidat and teenage debutant Corey Currithers on 70 minutes, and two minutes later Perrow finally found the target after rounding two defenders to make it five with a right-footed shot.

Perrow could have made it six on 84 minutes, but his low shot was halted by Jones. The Scholars were soon celebrating a comfortable victory, however, and this will focus them further as they warm up to face Nuneaton Borough in the FA Cup at the Scholars Ground this Saturday.

Chasetown: Sargeant, Spacey (Currithers 70), Peel, Thompson, Lewis, Hughes, J Branch (Dubidat 70), S Smith, Edwards, Perrow, Hancox

Other subs: M Branch, Perry, D Smith (not used)