Express & Star

Malvern 0 Chasetown 3

Chasetown overcame an injury to Danny Smith to cruise to their second successive victory on the road at Malvern.

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chasetown2.jpgChasetown overcame an injury to Danny Smith to cruise to their second successive victory on the road at Malvern.

The result lifts the Scholars to fourth in the Southern Midland Division.

Charlie Blakemore's attacked from the off in similar fashion to their victory at Chesham the previous Saturday, Luke Reynolds playing Smith through but the latter's shot was blocked from a tight angle and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Ben Stanford then blocked another Smith effort on nine minutes and John Branch played the striker through on the right, but the flag was up.

Richard Batchelor snuck in from the right after 20 minutes and Smith was blocked yet again, while Lee Parsons' cross was too high for anyone to head home.

Smith then departed with a suspected calf muscle injury on 25 minutes, following a collision with Malvern keeper Craig Humphries, and was replaced by Harry Harris.

A Jamie Hyde free-kick on 35 minutes hit the Scholars wall before Joe Williams sent a long range effort high over the bar. Harris's free-kick then found Reynolds at the far post but the ball was cleared off the line.

Scholars keeper Ryan Price saw his first action when he tipped away a Dave Reynolds free-kick on 40 minutes, before a Mark Branch free-kick was sent across goal by Batchelor and Richard Teesdale was there at the far post to tap home and put the visitors ahead.

Chasetown doubled their lead three minutes into the second half, when a Ben Steane free-kick was headed down to Batchelor who fired past Humphries into the back of the net.

Dave Reynolds was presented with a shooting opportunity on 55 minutes, when Dane Aldington placed a cross well but Reynolds tripped at the last moment.

Reynolds then presented Liam Paddock with a chance from a corner but Price saved well on his line. Luke Reynolds was played down the left but was denied his first goal for the Scholars, when a challenge from Joe Leighton saw him send the ball over the bar.

Humphries then saved a Harris effort low to his left following some good midfield work by the visitors, while Batchelor went clear on 76 minutes but his tamely struck shot went straight to Humphries.

Harris crowned his return from suspension a minute later when he received a low ball from the right and coolly rounded the keeper to tap in the Scholars' third.

In the closing stages substitute Tony Onokah beat the Malvern defence on the left to whip a shot in but Humphries plucked the ball out of the air.

With four minutes to go Aldington forced Price into his best save of the afternoon. Chasetown travel to Sudbury tomorrow.

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