Chasetown missed a couple of gilt-edged chances to clinch the game, writes Paul Mullins.

The Ravens made four changes from the weekend league match, while Chasetown made just one, with Theo Robinson in for Lee Butler.

In a much more entertaining game than the league affair two days earlier, both sides exchanged chances at goal early on. Inside the first minute, recalled Coalville skipper Cameron Stuart fired a free kick a matter of inches over the Chasetown crossbar. Then, Ant Carney teed up Saturday’s scorer Ryan Robbins who fired over the bar before heading wide a Liam Kay cross.

Chase striker Paul Sullivan created a chance for himself before pulling his shot wide of the post, before Craig Harris’ men took the lead in the 20th minute. Theo Robinson’s pace took him beyond Danny Jenno and burst inside the penalty area. Defender Josh Hill tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick but Robinson managed to keep it in and while Coalville’s back line stopped to appeal that the ball had crossed the line, the Chasetown winger did not and chipped the ball up into the six yard box where namesake Tesfa Robinson looped a header into an unguarded net.

Sullivan limped out with a leg injury almost certainly ruling him out of Friday’s final, with Butler coming on down the right wing with Danny Smith moved into a more advanced role.

Chasetown searched for a second and Nick Wellecomme went close, before a Theo Robinson cross just needed a touch in the six yard box to double the away side’s advantage.

Keeper Ryan Price made a low save to keep out Carney and a minute before half-time made a fingertip save to keep out another Carney effort. However, from the resultant corner, despite appeals for what seemed a clear offside, Coalville drew level through Jerome Murdock from close range.

After the break, ironically, Sam Carline who scored the play-off clinching own goal for The Scholars two days earlier headed a whisker wide as Coalville looked to take the lead.

The game took a huge swing towards Chasetown eight minutes after the interval when Smith burst clear over the half way line and was tangled to the ground by Jenno. Referee Mr Eagland had no hesitation but to award the right back his second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men.

The advantage was instantaneous. From the resultant free kick, Richard Teesdale headed into the path of Butler who whipped the ball across goal and Theo Robinson half volleyed into the ground and beyond Chris Gibson.
Unbelievably, Chasetown should’ve had a “hat-trick” of Robinson goals when Teesdale headed back across goal and somehow Tesfa Robinson scooped the ball over the bar from less than two yards when it seemed certain he’d extend the Scholars lead.

Despite being a man short, a neutral would’ve thought it was Coalville who had the man advantage as a tired looking Chasetown side were pegged back by the Leicestershire side that now had nothing to lose. Robbins whipped the ball across the penalty area and to Chasetown’s relief no-one got a touch.

Even though their territorial possession was better than Chasetown’s, it was the visitors who had more than one opportunity to wrap up the victory. Wellecomme’s curling cross was met by a powerful Teesdale header which had Gibson beaten but also the upright.

Theo Robinson was giving Stuart a tough ride, but it was at the other end that found Chasetown’s outstanding man of the match, full back Jack Farmer who hardly put a foot wrong in his 100th appearance for the Chase.

Wellecomme was wrongly denied a match-clinching third Chasetown goal when his looping header over Gibson seemed perfectly legitimate but it was harshly adjudged that Gibson had been fouled.

If Chasetown were unlucky then, “Lady Luck” wore a Chasetown shirt in the dying minutes as another cross from dangerman Robbins was met by substitute Dave Leigh whose effort hit Price before rebounding off Leigh and over the crossbar!

With no indication of time added on by the fourth official, Chasetown’s away support had to endure a nervy few minutes before the final whistle, which was greeted by scenes of elation and some very respectful reactions from Coalville players and supporters who wished Chasetown best wishes for the final away at Stamford.

Chasetown: Price, Farmer, Jackson, Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Teesdale, Smith, Bragoli, Wellecomme, Sullivan (Butler, 25 mins (Downes, 65 mins)), Theo Robinson

Other subs: Branch, Harris, Kisiel (not used)