The answer was emphatic as a crowd of 442 turned up to Church Street to see a much changed Scholars side over power struggling Malvern Town side with leading goal scorer Dean Perrow hitting a hat-trick writes Russell Brown.

Missing Chris Slater and Kyle Perry who had been snapped up by Coca Cola Division one side Port Vale and Vaughan Thomas who had rejoined his former manager Rob Smith at AFC Telford United, Chasetown brought in the 6ft 4” central defender Andy Penny from Hinckley United who teamed up with Todd Perry at the heart of the Scholars defence. Up front Danny Smith came in to replace the 10 goal Perry and Neil Aulton moved into the left back slot as Chasetown took to the field for the first time since that epic game against Cardiff City.

After being inactive for a fortnight, it was apparent from the start that the home side were eager to get back into the promotion hunt against a side that they had inflicted a 4-1 away defeat earlier in the season. A Ben Steane cross needed Harris to head away from Aulton at the far post. It was Harris who’s next defensive header set up another chance for the Scholars as the loose ball fell invitingly for Nick Hawkins on the edge of the area, but the midfielder fired over.

Steane, who was already running the show in midfield, showed quick feet to take the ball around two defenders before spotting keeper Paul Wyatt off his line, but the chip did not have enough height on it to beat the tall keeper.

The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Hawkins opened up the Malvern defence with a fine pass that Perrow took in his stride on his chest. Wyatt had seen the danger and was quickly off his line, but despite getting a block to the initial effort, the keeper was left helpless as Perrow recovered first to slot in to an empty net.

Perrow was close to adding a second as he drove just wide of the post as Malvern continued to reel. Wyatt then did well to get a hand to another Perrow effort after Smith had played in his strike partner and the keeper was grateful to see substitute Leighton complete the clearance.

Just before the break a nasty foul by Skyers on Aulton was only deemed to be a yellow card offence, but the result of the tackle was to force off the Chasetown player later in the game.

For all their pressure, Chasetown could not add to that solitary strike and the visitors reached the sanctuary of their dressing rooms still in with a chance at half time.

Town looked more composed after the break and although they rarely threatened the Chasetown goal until a corner needed to be cleared from the far post by Steane, they were holding their ground well. But any hope that the visitors could get something from the game evaporated in the 64th minute when Nick Clayton foolishly tripped Perrow in the area and the striker picked himself up to hammer the resultant penalty past Wyatt.

Perrow duly completed his third hat trick of the season in the 73rd minute when Malvern failed to clear after substitute Mark Branch had placed the ball into a crowed area. Craig Holland’s persistence saw his tackle push the ball into the path of the striker who stabbed in from close range.

Leighton was fortunate to stay on the field when he deliberately pulled back Smith as the striker cruised around the substitute. The Malvern player was already on a yellow card, but despite the clinical nature of the offence, the referee opted once again for leniency.

The hat trick hero was substituted on 79 minutes to a generous ovation from the home crowd with Nathan Lamey coming on and less than sixty second later they were back on their feet as Lamey steered a Hawkins free kick home with an assured header.

The day was completed as it was announced by an emotional Charlie Blakemore after the game that both Slater and Perry made their professional debuts for Vale, coming on a substitutes at Swansea.

Chasetown: Evans, J Branch, Aulton (M Branch), Perry, Penny, Williams, Steane (Woodvine), Hawkins, Smith, Perrow (Lamey), Holland

Other Subs: Clamp, Edwards (not used)