John Branch netted his first League goal since 2008 with a stunning second half strike to follow up Gary Hay’s 43rd-minute goal as the Scholars re-ignited their playoff chase.

Welcome returnee Hay was the first to go close for the Scholars in the fourth minute before the home defence curbed a couple of breaks by the visitors, a third breakthrough stopped by keeper Darren Acton on 12 minutes.

A free kick from the left for Frickley in the 16th minute was cleared by a header from Ben Jevons but only as far as Andy Caton, the latter’s low shot gathered by Acton before Gary Birch set up Hay to outpace Paul Lister down the left but keeper Ben Simpson was equal to his challenge.

A goalmouth scramble saw a Scholars penalty appeal for handball waved away on 25 minutes, and things then quietened a little until Hay forced Simpson into a fine save in the 39th minute with a hard shot from 20 yards, before on 43 minutes a long ball from Branch was headed on by Lee Parsons and Hay was able to loop a shot over Simpson and into the net to open the scoring.

Birch could have made it two in first half stoppage time following a cross from Richard Davies, but Simpson was able to palm down his shot, and seconds later Hay saw a shot rattle the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Parsons began the second half with a low shot forcing Simpson into a diving save as the Scholars kept up their pace, Brian Cusworth having the ball in the net for Frickley on 50 minutes but the whistle had gone for offside.

Dwayne Spence made his Chasetown debut when he came on for Hay in the 56th minute and could have scored his maiden goal for the side three minutes later but Simpson beat him to Jevons’s cross.

On 61 minutes Chasetown’s lead was doubled when a Ramone Stephens corner was played back as far as Branch and he unleashed a 30-yard screamer which bounced in off the underside of the bar for a sensational strike which is certainly a contender for Scholars goal of the season.

The atmosphere inside the Scholars Ground was now at fever pitch and the hosts continued to battle hard in midfield but couldn’t quite find a finishing touch to their subsequent attacks. Birch went closest with a header in the 76th minute from the edge of the area but missed the target by inches before Richard Teesdale’s overhead kick following a Branch free kick went wide.

Frickley showed signs of a comeback in the closing minutes but none was forthcoming and the Scholars took an accomplished and deserved victory.

Chasetown: Acton, Turner, J Branch, Slater, Davies, Teesdale, Stephens, Parsons, Birch, Hay (Spence, 56 mins), Jevons

Other Subs: Smith, Cohen, Bridgwater, M Branch (not used)