Chasetown defeated – but provide footie fix for fans
Football fans up and down the country were left wondering what to do with their Saturday after the coronavirus outbreak led to a mass suspension of the beautiful game.
But it was business as usual for Chasetown after their Northern One South East clash with Worksop Town was given the green light to go ahead.
And it led to Craig Harris’s side recording their highest home attendance of the season with 348 spectators heading to The Scholars Ground to get their football fix.
In the build-up to the match, League Two outfit Walsall tweeted to suggest those fans still wanting to attend a match on Saturday got behind Chasetown.
But while the increase in gate will have proven a welcome boost to the coffers, Harris’ side weren’t able to give those fans a win with the team falling to a 2-0 loss.
It was a frustrating defeat for The Scholars who began the game on the front foot – with visiting keeper David Reay doing well to hold on to some searching crosses from right-back Craig Deakin in the opening few minutes.
Gradually, Chasetown’s pressure started to lead to chances. Will Whieldon fired over with an effort from outside the box after good play from Jimmy O’Neill and Liam Kirton. Reay then held onto a low cross from Alex Melbourne and was then equal to another drive from Whieldon.
And Harris’ side again came close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark when George Cater twisted and turned inside the box only to see Reay get down and palm away his effort at the near post.
Those misses meant, when Worksop did take the lead, the goal came against the run of play.
Substitute Aaron Sennett-Neilson brought down Ben Rhodes’ crossfield ball.
And he then advanced into the area before firing into the corner and beyond the reach of Chase keeper Curtis Pond.
Chasetown should have levelled shortly after the interval, only for Whieldon to miss a glorious opportunity.
Cater was floored by Reay but a penalty wasn’t awarded and the loose ball ran to Whieldon who fired over the bar with an open goal gaping.
To make matters worse for the midfielder, Worksop went straight up the other end and increased their advantage – with McDonnell whipping in a cross which Craig Mitchell headed home.
From that point, Chasetown knocked on the door in a bid to try and salvage something from the game.
Reay produced another smart save to keep out a fierce volley from Cater, while Danny Cocks saw a strike from inside the box deflect for a corner.
The keeper then continued his outstanding display with two more excellent stops.
In the 73rd minute, Reay denied Josh Cooke after the Chase number nine turned sharply and fired a powerful shot goalwards from 10 yards.
The hosts’ feeling that it wasn’t going to be there day was then as good as confirmed when the glovesman pulled off another diving stop to deny Jack Langston.
The result leaves Chasetown sitting 15th in the table. Worksop, who have won their last six, climbed to 12th.
