Dream for Chasetown goal hero

Mark Branch revealed he knew he'd score for Chasetown against Port Vale – after dreaming about it the night before.]

The 21-year-old Shenstone-based accounting technician sent the 2,000-plus Scholars fans into dreamland when his 35-yard free kick crashed in to cancel out Luke Rodgers's effort.

Branch's amazing strike left Chasetown just a replay away from a home tie with Championship side Cardiff, managed by former Wolves boss Dave Jones, who has brought Premier League superstars Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to the club.

Branch has no such ideas of grandeur – he was hoping for a day off from Naylor's Accountants in Lichfield today after celebrating last night, but wasn't banking on it. "I dreamt about scoring a free kick in front of our fans the night before, just like the one I scored yesterday," said the former Walsall trainee.

"But in my dream it was the winner." The ex-Hednesford left wing-back's setpiece bounced before it went in, fooling keeper Joe Anyon and Branch revealed he aimed for the top corner.

"To score was unbelievable, but that free kick is something we work on," he said.

"I try to whip it as hard as I can, the big lads run in and if someone gets a flick on it, it could go in and if they miss it, it could also go in like it did yesterday. I think them running in put the keeper off and it flew in. An inswinging ball like that is hard to defend against and the keeper didn't know what to do.

"I don't want to take anything from my strike, but I think there was a bit of wind behind it as well which helped.

"I can't remember what I did when I scored – I think I ran towards the crowd and I got mobbed, I was left under a big pile of bodies and I couldn't breathe for about five minutes!

"I've only scored three goals in my career – two this season and one similar against Cambridge City in one of the earlier rounds – so it's easily the biggest of my life.I'll just be watching it over and over again now."