By over-coming Heath Hayes in the quarter-final, Chasetown could set up a semi-final with Rushall Olympic and a potential Vale Park final against Hednesford Town, writes Paul Mullins.

Having played two days previously and again in two days’ time, Craig Harris made six changes from the side that had beaten Northwich on Tuesday night.

The visitors had already knocked their higher ranked hosts out of the Walsall Senior Cup earlier in the season and made a dream start after just seven minutes when Thomas Green drove home from the right hand side of the penalty area.

On the back of three consecutive wins, the change in personnel made Chasetown look disjointed and former Scholars goalkeeper Adam Lane was barely tested in a disappointing first half. The closest Chasetown came to the Heath Hayes’ goal was a deflected Andy Westwood effort which went out for a corner kick.

Danny Smith came on at half-time making his first appearance since injury in the 4-4 draw at Sutton Coldfield in January and immediately was in the thick of the action helping to turn the cup-tie in its head.

Chasetown drew level in the 65th minute with a superb team goal. Smith’s pace accelerated away from the Heath Hayes back line and played the ball into Nick Wellecomme who returned the ball to Smith with a neat one-two. Smith cut into the penalty area and slid the ball across the six yard box, where fellow substitute Theo Robinson, who’d only been on the field four minutes, netted from close range with Lane stranded.

Five minutes later, The Scholars scored what proved to be the winner. Greg Downes crossed from the right and Lane spilled the ball inside his 6 yard box where Wellecomme was there to react to poke the ball home no more than three yards out – his 14th goal of the season.

The tie should have been over as a contest 16 minutes from time. Wellecomme was clean through on goal and elected to shoot rather than round the keeper and Lane made a save, forcing the rebound out towards Mark Branch. At one stage, Chasetown had five attackers against two at the back and Branch clipped the ball towards Danny Smith, but Lane held onto the fierce shot.

The Man of the Match award would be a toss-up between Wellecomme and Smith, and the two combined with a teasing right wing cross from Wellecomme, with Smith inches away from a diving header, akin to his Port Vale winner of 2007.

Lane saved another Smith header as Chasetown ended the game more strongly to earn an April date with Rushall Olympic in a one-off semi-final tie.

Chasetown: Price, Downes, Branch, Slater, Bate, Farmer, Westwood, Saunders (Theo Robinson, 61 mins), Wellecomme, Purkiss (D Smith, HT), Clarke-O’Connell (Brown, 68 mins)

Other subs: Tesfa Robinson, Butler (not used)