Express & Star

Chasetown 5 Belper Town 1 - Report

Chasetown ended their Belper hoodoo with their first ever home win over the Derbyshire side.

Published

Chasetown made a brilliant start and took the lead after 7 minutes. Oli Hayward’s right wing cross was headed in off the post by Nick Wellecomme.

Jake Lovatt almost made it two, denied by Joe Searson-Smithard at his near post.

The home side had the better of the game territorially but the Nailers shocked their hosts with a 25th minute equaliser with Lee Williamson netting past Curtis Pond.

The Scholars upped the game again and Lovatt saw his low shot kicked away by the keeper and he then teed up Wellecomme whose header was blocked by the keeper by his post.

The home side deservedly regained the lead with a sumptuous through ball by Will Whieldon that Wellecomme chipped up to the far post and Lovatt bulleted a header home.

Chasetown extended their lead at the start of the second half. Hayward swung the ball in and Lovatt steered the ball home right footed for his second.

Lovatt completed his ‘perfect’ hat trick a minute later stealing through the visitors defence and sliding the ball home with his left foot this time.

Jack Langston was the latest Scholar to force a stunning save from Searson-Smithard.

Searson-Smithard was again in action saving from substitute Danny Cocks after a Lovatt assist but the winger forced home the rebound to extend the lead to 5-1.

A series of substitutions from both sides killed the contest in terms of serious goal efforts in the final quarter of the game.