Blakemore magic for Chasetown

Team Bath 0 Chasetown 2

Charlie Blakemore retired from playing football about four years ago. But he produced 15 minutes of magic on Saturday to leave Chasetown in FA Cup dreamland, writes Tim Nash.

British Telecom technical support man Vaughan Thomas and fork lift truck driver Craig Holland took the plaudits for scoring the goals to put Chasetown into the second round for the first time.

Striker Kyle Perry, a graphic designer, had managers of both sides purring for his man of the match performance.

But step forward boss Blakemore and his backroom staff as the motivational motormouths who convinced their incredible players they could win before a ball was kicked.

Oh, and the 1,500 supporters who poured down the M5 to turn Twerton Park into a mini Chasetown Blakemore had wished for.

Blakemore, who had to remain in Bath overnight before his mother-in-law was discharged from hospital after collapsing, played the key role.

First came a 30-minute address from him and player-coach Andy Turner the night before on how the players were going to win the tie and the strengths – but mainly weaknesses – of each Bath player.

Then at 2.15pm on Saturday came the 15 minutes of magic from Blakemore which transformed his players into 10-foot tall, chest puffed-out giants.

There isn't the space here to reveal the full flavour of Blakemore's morale-boosting talk, but suffice to say they were ordered to ensure the students knew they were in a game.

Blakemore left his players feeling they couldn't fail to win provided they rattled and harrassed the opposition from the first whistle.

They carried his instructions out to the letter to have the game wrapped up after half an hour.

"Preparation has to be spot-on and the players took on board what we told them," said Blakemore.

"We told them not to let them stamp their game on us, we wanted to stamp our game on them. We didn't give them a minute's peace and we worked so hard."

Blakemore added: "It's the biggest footballing moment of my life – second only to the birth of my two daughters, Emily and Lillie.

"It's absolutely magic – I'm so proud of Chasetown and the club, but mostly for the players, who were absolutely superb. It's a magic feeling. We had about 1,500 supporters follow us at Bath and it was just like a home game."

Team Bath head coach and former Walsall defender Andy Tillson admitted Chasetown, who play a league below the British Gas Southern League premier division promotion chasers, had more desire than his side.

"They wanted it more than us and it showed," said Tillson. "They're very feisty and have a lot of spirit about them."

Holland's magnificent 20-yard strike on the half hour left the Scholars in dreamland.

"It was certainly the most memorable goal of my career – I don't think I'll ever forget it," said the 25-year-old midfielder.

"I don't know what made me do it – I stole it from Lee Parsons and just thought 'why not?' and luckily it flew in."

Earlier Thomas's equally sweetly-struck shot had given Chasetown the breakthrough after 11 minutes.

"It's got to be the biggest moment of my career – there's not many teams of our standard get to the first round of the FA Cup, so that's special," said the central defender, 29.

Chasetown could easily have won the tie more convincingly.

They took the lead with their first attack when Thomas rifled home a left foot volley from the corner of the six-yard box to beat keeper Darren Chitty at his near post after former Walsall trainee Perry flicked on Lee Evans's free kick.

Perry then hit the post from Mark Branch's free kick and Joe Williams steered inches wide from another Mark Branch setpiece before Holland lashed home from 20 yards after keeper Evans caused havoc and a goalmouth scramble with another deep free kick.

After the break, Chasetown continued to be the better side and Perry forced Chitty into a full length, diving save after teeing himself up from Mark Branch's cross.

Soon after Ben Steane saw his effort hit the inside of the post and roll along the goalline before Shaun Lamb cleared.

Perry also missed another golden chance after Dean Perrow was allowed to dribble right in to the near post.

It took until three minutes into stoppage time for Team Bath to force Evans into a serious save – and then the former Bromsgrove shotstopper palmed away from substitute Steve Abbott.

But by then Chasetown were through and in dreamland.

Team Bath (4-4-2): Chitty; Lock, Green, El-Abd, Lamb; Townley, Dean Smith, Dillon (Marc Canham 62), Thomson (Flurry 62); Sean Canham, Llewellyn (Abbott 49). Subs not used: Adams, Cooper.

Chasetown (3-5-2): Evans; Thomas, Slater, Williams; John Branch, Parsons, Holland, Steane, Mark Branch; Perry, Perrow (Danny Smith 90). Subs not used: Edwards, Sam Smith, Spacey, Thompson.

Referee: B Malone (Wilts).

Attendance: 2,067.