The Scholars had the run of the game throughout, with the Tulips only able to grab a couple of chances at goal, and put the previous week’s FA Cup exit firmly out of the minds of both the players and supporters.

With Spalding fielding five debutants, including goalkeeper Steve Norris, they were always going to be up against it, and the Scholars took just nine minutes to hit the front when CRAIG MILLIGAN beat two defenders and sent a right-footed shot under the keeper’s body to open the scoring.

Milligan could have made it two but his next shot was blocked for a corner, and it was Danny Smith who doubled the visitors’ lead on 18 minutes. Gary Birch played Dave Egan through and SMITH ran onto a low ball from the latter and coolly rounded the keeper to side-foot home.

The Tulips’ only chance of the half came on 24 minutes when captain Andy Toyne threaded through Jamie McGhee, but his shot was shepherded away by John Branch.

With five minutes of the half remaining BIRCH made it three as he picked up a short back pass to Norris and scored to the embarrassment of the home side, and SMITH completed his double on 44 minutes when he headed home a corner after Norris had acrobatically sent Birch’s shot over the bar.

Scholars skipper Richard Teesdale shrugged off a clash of heads to continue leading his side’s domination in the second half, with Egan and Birch both going close before the home side pulled one back when DAVID DE OLIVIERA beat Martin Taylor with a high shot to the keeper’s left.

Spalding’s celebrations were short-lived and just two minutes later BIRCH coolly lobbed the ball over Norris and into the net for his second and Chasetown’s fifth.

New signing GRANT RYAN replaced Smith and soon had his first goal for the Scholars, heading home a ball across goal from Birch after Norris had stopped the latter’s initial shot.

Taylor stopped two shots from Ben Goode in the closing minutes, and there was still time for one more for the rampant Scholars. With the last action of the match Danny Bragoli’s corner was crossed to substitute HARRY HARRIS who fired a superb 30-yard volley into the roof of the net and complete a comprehensive victory.

Spalding: Norris, Lunn, King, Toyne (c), George, Spence, De Oliviera, Scott, Goode, McGhee, Tocco. Subs: Gordon (Lunn 75), Walker, Backwill (McGhee 83), Shepherd (De Oliviera 86), Flintof.

Chasetown: Taylor, J Branch, Milligan, Slater, Thomas, Teesdale (c), Holland, Bragoli, Birch, Smith, Egan. Subs: M Branch (Milligan 68), Ryan (Smith 58), Horton, Harris (Holland 71), Greenway.

Referee: Mr C Marsden

Attendance: 108