In a thoroughly entertaining game for the 477 lucky spectators who witnessed it, Leek Town maintained their recent good form and produced some quality football to gain revenge for an early season defeat at Chasetown to win the reverse fixture 4-1 on a sunny winters afternoon at the F Ball community Stadium.

With results from other games going their way goals from Dan Trickett-Smith (2), Tom Carr and Rob Stevenson opened up a 4point gap and ensured the Blues would remain top of the league for Christmas.

There was a change to the Leek line up. Manager Josh Brehaut chose to move Louis Keenan from his left back role to partner Olly Harrison at centre half with new loanee signing from Chester, Ollie Haywood, making his debut at full back.

However, Haywood would go on to have a solid game and even had a first minute effort blocked inside the Chasetown area as he supported the Blues initial attack.

The Leek pressing game was in early evidence and on 3mins forced the first of many mistakes from a shaky looking Chasetown defence. Trickett-Smith picked up the ball and provided a shooting opportunity for Stevenson. He was unable to take it but the Blues retained possession and neatly passed it around the edge of the area before Tom Reilly finally drove a left footed effort just over.

After such an encouraging start it came as a shock when the Scholars took the lead on 4mins. A ball forward found George Cater goal side of Olly Harrison and his lobbed effort left Dino Visser stranded with a suspicion that the ball had deflected off the defender to wrong foot the Leek goalkeeper.

The Blues looked to hit back and on 10mins Stevenson out muscled a Chasetown defender to reach a long ball forward but with Carr looking for the square ball in front of goal his strike partner went for the left footed curler which didn’t have enough on it to go inside the far post.

It was an example of some wrong decision making by the Leek forward line as time after time their impressive link up play created an opportunity but then they chose to shoot when a team mate was better placed or actually tried to square it when a shot was the better option.

On 17mins Carr forced another mistake from the Scholars defence and bore in on goal from the left hand side. He attempted to lift the ball over Matt Sargeant but the keeper looked as if he had got something on it and it cleared the bar but the referee gave a goal kick.

The officials further irked the home support on 21mins when Liam Buckley went down under a challenge in the area with the appeals for a penalty waved away.

However, the home sides pressure finally told on 22mins and they deservedly drew level when Trickett-Smith picked up the ball just outside the box and fired home a fine 20yarder beyond the reach of Sargeant. It was to be the catalyst of a devastating spell of three goals in eight minutes that stunned the visitors.

On 27mins a ball down the left found Stevenson who beat his marker with ease and this time took the right decision to square the ball to Carr who firmly side footed the ball home for a 2-1 lead.

The Scholars defence was in disarray and Carr took advantage of Danny O’Callaghans hesitancy to win the ball off the centre half and fashion a shooting opportunity. His effort was blocked but the ball came back to Reilly who feinted to shoot first time and committed the defender to the challenge but took a touch to the outside and was subsequently brought down for a penalty.

Up stepped Stevenson and he made no mistake to make it 3-1 after half an hour and for the third game in a row ensured all three strikers had registered on the scoresheet.

After this flurry of activity the game entered a quieter period as both sides digested the events of the first 30mins until there was another burst of activity up to half time.

Chasetown, who showed they were a decent side going forward and would not go away fashioned a chance for Cater after 42mins with a neat flicked ball over the top but he was unable to connect properly with his volley to make the save comfortable for Visser.

At the other end Leek’s front three continued to create problems for the Scholars defence and probably should have made it four with two excellent late chances in the half.

A minute after Caters opportunity Stevenson burst into the area but was foiled by a last ditch challenge. The ball broke to Trickett-Smith but with Carr again free in the middle he chose to shoot and his effort was just wide of the far post.

Then Trickett-Smith did find Carr a minute later as the Blues hit Chasetown on the break but his low drive was saved by the feet of Sargeant to give the visitors some hope for the second half.

LEEK TOWN 3 - CHASETOWN 1 HT

The Scholars brought on their talisman and top scorer Jack Langston, who had missed their last couple of games, in the hope of retrieving the game but it was Leek who were immediately on the attack and the more threatening side again.

On 47mins how the Blues thought they had scored from a corner. The charging Olly Harrison met the delivery and the ball looked to be flying in when Sargeant produced a Gordon Banks type save and someone managed to scoop it over the bar.

Sargeant was again called into action moments later as he quickly came out to deny Carr but could do nothing when Keenan’s corner to the near post was met perfectly by Trickett-Smith to steer his header inside the post for 4-1 on 55mins.

Cater had another two good chances for Chasetown as they continued to contribute to an enjoyable spectacle but again failed to get any power behind his shot to trouble Visser for the first, whilst his second was blazed over with only the keeper to beat.

At the other end Trickett-Smith looked for his hat-trick as the Blues cut open the Scholars defence once more to leave the striker with a one on one but he was denied by Sargeant who spread himself to block the effort.

With a three goal cushion it was understandable that, with a 20mins left Brehaut should use his substitutes and give players a much needed run out with Tom Scully, Tim Grice and Aaron Opoku coming on for Reilly, Carr and Stevenson.

There was to be no let up for the troubled Chasetown defence, however, and Opoku alone had a couple of great opportunities in the closing stages of the game.

On 80 mins in a lovely move the ball was played up to Grice who flicked a perfect header inside to Trickett-Smith who then slid a pass straight into the stride of Opoku bursting into the area but his shot was weak and allowed Sargeant to save.

An even better move on 86 mins saw Grice intelligently lay off the ball to Opoku who then exchanged passes with Scully to beat the Chasetown back line but, with only Sargeant to beat, this time the strikers effort had too much on it and it flew over the bar.

LEEK TOWN 4 - CHASETOWN FC 1 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

So a good day at the office for Leek Town fans creating a small gap at the top of the table, with only 3 teams in the top half winning. We now look forward to our last away outing of 2023 with a trip to Widnes, followed by a Big Boxing Day Bash at the F Ball Community Stadium as we host our good friends Newcastle Town.

You can buy your tickets HERE

Photographers courtesy of Jim Booth HERE

Post match interview Moorlands Sport - Josh Brehaut interviewed by Ian Corbishley HERE