I don’t think anyone would deny Chasetown were worthy winners but the nature of the game saw attack dominate defence throughout and if this had finished 7-6 there would have been few complaints!

The Scholars were on the front foot from the start and had chances to take the lead before they did so. Simon Brown and Tesfa Robinson both got efforts away early on as Chasetown looked to build on their Boxing Day victory.

Before anyone had chance to say that Chasetown needed to score to assert their authority, leading goalscorer Paul Sullivan took aim from outside the box and pinged an absolute beauty of an effort beyond Rob Poulter that the visiting keeper had no chance with.

The visitors had a penalty appeal turned down before being awarded a spot kick in the 28th minute when Joel Purkiss tumbled under a challenge inside the box. Andy Gascoigne stepped up and planted a left footed kick beyond Ryan Price.

Simon Brown’s skill inside the penalty area almost fashioned out a chance for Chasetown to regain the lead before the interval. His trickery wrong footed two Sheffield defenders before his shot was blocked. The rebound fell to Nick Wellecomme who half-volleyed goalwards, beyond Poulter, but Connor Shirley cleared the ball three yards out.

If Scholars fans were concerned about the failure to take chances, that was redeemed within just four minutes of the restart as they opened up a two-goal advantage. In the 48th minute, Brown advanced towards the edge of the area and, in truth, it looked like his pass was too short to reach Wellecomme but, Sheffield defender Brandon Cardwell failed to clear what looked like a routine clearance and the ball got through to Wellecomme, who from 6 yards, fired goalwards and although Poulter got his right hand to the ball, he was unable to keep it out.

Sixty seconds later, Sullivan capitalised on a poor clearance from Jamie Hadfield and drove home from close range.

Just after the hour mark, Sullivan completed his hat trick – his second for the club, his last one coming in February versus Loughborough Dynamo. Wellecomme and Brown combined for Sullivan to be goal side of the last defender and finished smartly beyond the Sheffield keeper who had no chance.

If the home support thought it was game over, there was a sting in the tale.

With 18 minutes remaining, it was Chasetown who failed to clear the ball in their six yard box and former Scholar Purkiss netted from close range.

Hat-trick hero Sullivan was withdrawn, while Manager Craig Harris also introduced defender Richard Teesdale for Brown, who had picked up a slight knock.

Sheffield further reduced the deficit with ten minutes left on the clock. If Sullivan’s first goal was a beauty, then Andy Gascoigne’s strike was certainly a candidate to equal the Chase opener. The striker picked up the ball outside the area, drove on and fired a shot from outside the box which nestled in the far corner of the goal.

Chasetown were holding on a bit and breathed a huge sigh of relief inside the fourth minute of stoppage time. Numerous Sheffield players were inside the box trying to contrive an equaliser and it was Purkiss who got the best chance away striking the Chasetown crossbar.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Jack Farmer, Grant Beckett, Chris Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Joe Halsall, Simon Brown (Richard Teesdale, 76 mins), Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme (Ramone Stephens, 88 mins), Paul Sullivan (Danny Smith, 73 mins), Lee Butler.

Other subs: Louis Keenan, Danny Watson (not used)

Sheffield FC: Poulter, Shirley, Turner (Fereday, 87 mins), Burrell, Cardwell, Hadfield, Roney (Pemberton, 71 mins), Stirrup (Thomas, 86 mins), Purkiss, Gascoigne, Gregory.

Other sub: Powell (not used)