The first half was unquestionably the highlight, with three early goals and a missed penalty shared between the sides in a fine display of football.

Chasetown took the lead after just six minutes when a Ramone Stephens cross was flashed across the goal by Gary Hay and Dave Egan steered the ball past the helpless Terry Smith in the Ashton goal.

The Scholars’ lead would last just eight minutes before Clive Moyo-Modise scored a fine solo goal for the visitors, cutting across Darren Acton’s goalmouth before shooting right-footed past the keeper’s outstretched hand to equalise.

Six minutes later and the home side were back in front, Gary Birch playing the ball back out to Jack Farmer following a corner and the young gun’s cross was headed home by Ben Jevons for a goal on his return from injury.

Smith then made a superb triple save to deny both Hay and Egan after Birch had produced a fine cross, the United keeper determined not to be beaten with three rapid-fire blocks.

Chasetown should have made it 3-1 on 39 minutes when Ged Murphy handled a shot from Egan in the box, but Smith was able to push Birch’s resultant penalty kick wide for a corner. On the stroke of half time Egan smashed the ball off the underside of the crossbar, and as Jevons tried to follow up he was fouled for a free kick.

The second half started in similar fashion and Aaron Burns had the ball in the net for Ashton but was denied by the offside flag, and the visitors saw several shot and crosses fail to find their targets as they searched for an equaliser.
Birch was unlucky on several occasions for the Scholars, including seeing his header punched away by Smith following a Chris Peel corner and a shot cleared by Alex Frost. The action dropped away slightly compared to before the break, but both sides still proved evenly matched and able to create chances.

Substitutes Osebi Abadaki and Sam Madeley both went close for the visitors in the closing minutes, Stephens able to counter the latter at the point of shooting, but an equaliser could not be found and Chasetown took the three points, moving them up to eighth in the league.

Chasetown: Acton, Farmer, Peel, Cohen, J Branch (Slater, 58 mins), Teesdale, Stephens, Egan, Birch, Hay, Jevons

Other Subs: Ryan, Parsons, Thompson, M Branch (not used)