The striker found Chase’s only two clear chances of the game his first effort bouncing back off the post but his second was successful to seal three more vital points for the Scholars.

With both teams pushing for a playoff place a lively night’s action was in prospect and both teams began in attacking fashion, the Vics having the first chance when Wayne Riley fired wide at the far post following a fine cross from the left by Andy Fowler.

Both sides were cancelling each other out well in a close-run game, Fowler going close again for Northwich in the 15th minute before stand-in Scholars keeper Darren Acton had to be alert to fling himself low and stop Riley’s attack on 27 minutes.

Tony Evans burst through twice for the Vics but was beaten by the offside flag, and still Chasetown could not get near to creating a scoring chance. Riley’s 42nd-minute corner was miskicked by former West Bromwich Albion man Pedro Monteiro and John Branch was able to clear before Acton got behind Brian Summerskill’s tamely struck shot, an uninspiring half closing with chances few and far between although the visitors looked marginally stronger.

An early free kick was headed on by Richard Teesdale and collected by keeper James Spencer as the second half began before Matty Cohen cleared a low cross off the line.

Chasetown’s first clear chance of the game came in the 52nd minute when Gary Birch unleashed a shot from a tight angle on the left but the ball clanged off the far post and back into Spencer’s grateful arms.

Two minutes later Birch’s luck changed for the better as Danny Smith received a through ball in the area and set up the striker to lash a shot past Spencer and put the Scholars ahead.

The goal seemed to liven up the home side slightly and a Dave Bridgwater free kick flew straight to keeper Spencer but still chances were barely forthcoming as Northwich upped their game to counter their threats.

In the closing minutes a Birch free kick from the edge of the area cannoned off the wall and went out for a corner with Smith heading Mark Branch’s kick over the bar, but the Scholars held on to seal a second successive league victory.

Chasetown: Acton, J Branch, M Branch, Turner, Cohen, Teesdale, Davies, Bridgwater (Parsons, 82 mins), Birch, Smith, Jevons

Other Subs: Abbott, Hulin, Lloyd-McGoldrick, Stephens (not used)