But for the brilliance of keeper Michael Underwood, the visitors would have been sent home on the end of a heavier thrashing, as the youngster produced a stunning performance that even included a penalty save to deny Dean Perrow a deserved hat-trick writes Russell Brown.

Such was the measure of this one sided game the visitors failed to get one single shot at the largely redundant Lee Evans as the Chasetown keeper had the quietest home game of the season. By contrast, it was a case of shots in at the other end with Underwood setting his standards by twice denying Perrow in the opening stages.

The keeper was fortunate when he failed to collect a Nick Hawkins shot that skipped up of the wet surface. The rebound fell perfectly for Perrow following in, but the striker planted his header against the crossbar.

On 24 minutes a controversial penalty decision gave the home side the break through. Liam Kenna looked to have timed his tackle on Perrow to perfection, but his momentum carried him into the striker. To his horror the referee point straight to the spot and Perrow hammered in his 26th league goal of the season.

Two minutes later and again the terrible conditions played their part in Chasetown’s second goal. Dave Woodvine unleashing a powerful shot from 25 yards out and the midfielder celebrated his first goal for the club as Underwood misjudged the effort to let it bounce off him and into the net.

That was to be the only blot on the young keeper’s copy book as he proceeded to keep out the rampant Chasetown strikers almost single handily saving twice from Perrow and keeping out a great effort from Mark Branch.

With no threat coming from the visitors, the Scholars were able to pour men forward at will and sometimes the home side were guilty of a little over elaboration in front of goal when a more direct route may have been the way through. But there was no doubting the simplicity of Chasetown’s third goal as a Mark Branch corner was perfect for Hawkins to meet with a powerful header to make it 3-0 on 54 minutes.

Andy Penny then had a header cleared off the line and Perrow was again denied by the keeper as he attempted to take the ball around Underwood only for the youngster to tip the ball of the foot of the striker. But on the hour it was 4-0. Hawkins ball splint the Lilywhites wide open and Danny Smith unselfishly squared the ball for Perrow to collect league goal number 27 and equal a club record set by Karl Edwards in season 2002/03.

The duel continued with Underwood making another stunning save to stop a fierce Perrow volley and seeing the rebound hacked off the line as the waves of Chasetown attacks continued unabated.

With five minutes remaining Perrow had the perfect opportunity to gain his hat trick as he was again felled in the area by Kenna, but Underwood brought the curtain down on a fine individual performance to correctly guess the direction of the spot kick and thwart the striker.

That victory propelled Chasetown into the final play-off spot and as they conclude their league campaign with away trips to Chesham United and Aylesbury, both still in with a chance of promotion themselves, their remarkable season may still have a few twists to its conclusion.

Chasetown: Evans, Harris (Steane), M Branch, Miller, Penny, Williams, Woodvine (Aulton), J Branch, Smith (Dubidat), Perrow, Hawkins

Other Subs: Perry, Gordon (not used)