The Chasetown fans came out in force to turn Dales Lane blue for this Boxing Day fixture and despite the game being far from a classic, the Scholars following made the short trip home happy thanks to a Dean Perrow goal against his old side writes Russell Brown.

There was just one enforced change to manager Charlie Blakemore’s team selection as midfielder Ben Steane was ruled out due to illness and that gave new signing Scott Clamp his first full start of the season against a Pics side that had reeled off two good league wins prior to this early afternoon clash.

On a bright, crisp day, the first real sign of danger came from the home side as a dangerous free kick was awarded central to the Chasetown goal, but Lee Barrow got his angles all wrong to fire well over the target. In retaliation, Nick Hawkins drove a set piece deep into the Rushall area and with the defenders backing off the ball, it just required a touch, but eventually drifted wide of the post.

A mistake from Dave Haywood saw Perrow quickly in to rob the defender. His ball inside was dummied by Kyle Perry, allowing the ball to run through for Mark Branch who struck a powerful shot first time inches wide of the post. Perry then bought the first save of the game when the big centre forward did well to turn under pressure and drive goal wards, but Tony Breedon got his body right behind the effort.

Breedon was again in action to show impressive handling to pluck a curling free kick from the onrushing forwards after yet another excellent set piece was delivered in by Mark Branch.

Chasetown were seeing most of the ball in the first third of the game and it came as no surprise that the Scholars finally made their possession pay in the 34th minute. It was another set piece delivered into the heart of the Rushall goal mouth that did the damage as Hawkins free kick caused confusion in the area. The ball cannoned into the path of Perrow and the Chasetown top scorer needed no second invitation to bury the ball past Breedon from ten yards out. The delight on the former Rushall striker was apparent as he wheeled away to celebrate his tenth league goal of the season and 15th in all competitions.

Just before the interval, the home side created their best chance of the half when the Chasetown defence uncharacteristically left Paul McMahon free at the far post from a corner and the striker who had left Church Street to join up with the Pics could not find the accuracy on his header to punish his old colleagues.

Two early chances were to fall to Perrow in the opening stages of the second period. From the first, the striker got ahead of his marker but struck the ball across the goal and just wide of the far post. The second had Perrow under severe pressure from two Rushall defenders who eventually managed to crowd out the striker with just a suggestion that it was done with the help of a foul as Perrow tried to get his shot in.
An excellent through ball from Barrow had Chasetown in real trouble as the pass split open the heart of the defence but the ever reliable Chris Slater had read the situation perfectly and executed a superbly timed tackle to clear the danger.

Rushall then bought off both of their strikers with neither McMahon or Damien Charie having too much effect on the Chasetown rear guard. Manager Paul Holleran opting to go with the big target men of Paul Szewczyk and the experienced Chris Brindley. That prompted a spell of pressure from the home side with high ball being pumped in at every opportunity.

It almost worked as keeper Lee Evans who had had a relatively quiet afternoon, was forced under pressure to hand off a corner and Slater was on hand to clear off the line to keep the narrow lead intact.

Reacting positively to the switch of tactics, Vaughan Thomas and Joe Williams were not to be caught out and their handling of the situation ensured that Rushall could not force their way through. That enabled the Scholars to complete a tough league double over their local rivals and in turn move a step closer in closing the gap on the leading pack.

Chasetown: Evans, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Thomas, Williams, Clamp, Hawkins (Woodvine), Perry, Perrow (D Smith), Holland

Other Subs: Edwards, Spacey (not used)