The Scholars go into their final home league fixture of the season against bottom club Berkhamsted on Tuesday night with a real chance of making the end of season play offs writes Russell Brown.

With league fixtures running out, this was a must win game for Chasetown and their deadly duo up front came up with the goods when it mattered most, but the Villagers made it hard work for Charlie Blakemore’s men.

After the midweek defeat to Leighton, the Scholars boss made four changes to his side and with both Phil Harris and Dave Woodvine making vital contributions to this victory, Chasetown were at full strength for the first time in a few weeks.

After a bright start from the home side, cheered on by the day’s biggest crowd of 445, it was a goal ten minutes from the break that separated the two sides. Perrow, who always looked threatening going forward picked up the ball on the edge of the area and despite a desperate challenge from the defender, the striker had enough composure to clip the ball over Jamie Moore to secure his half century league goal for the club.

After the break, Bishops Cleeve had their hosts on the back foot and there was little that Chasetown could do but weather the storm. Fortunately, the returning Andy Penny was a rock at the heart of the Scholars defence as he kept his troops in order at the back.

Substitute Matt Collins brought a low save from Lee Evans before the home side rallied and John Branch was denied by an instinctive save from Moore as Nick Hawkins found the wing back with a sublime ball into the area.

A scramble in the area found Moore wondering just where the ball was and the visitors keeper was lucky to see Perrow’s effort from a narrow angle somehow cleared of the line.

With the visitors once again enjoying the majority of the possession, their lack of a finisher in front of goal was keeping the Scholars slender lead intact, but committed to finding an equaliser, Bishop Cleeve made the fatal mistake of allowing Danny Smith just one marker on him and when the ball was cleared into the strikers path, there was no way the defender was going to catch the diminutive forward.

With a yard’s head start Smith raced from his own area to face up to Moore who could not stop the low shot from flying past him to secure Chasetown’s crucial three points.

Chasetown: Evans, Harris, M Branch, Miller, Penny, Williams, Woodvine. J Branch, Smith, Perrow (Gordon), Hawkins

Other Subs: Dubidat, Aulton, Steane, Perry (not used)