Scholars celebrate success at Pics expense

Chasetown manager Craig Harris has promised to bring more success on the pitch next season after beating Evo-Stik Northern Premier League rivals Rushall Olympic to lift the Walsall Senior Cup and end their campaign on a high.

A 4-1 win at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium on Monday night saw Harris collect his first trophy as manager of the First Division South’s Scholars, pictured, and end a run of 11 straight defeats against their top flight rivals.

The Pics were hot favourites to win the Walsall Senior Cup Final against their neighbours and collect their second piece of silverware this season after beating Port Vale 2-1 in April to win the Staffordshire Senior Cup but they were well beaten in boss Neil Kitching’s last game in charge.

Chasetown’s Joe Halsall headed them in front 20 minutes into the first half, Nick Wellecomme’s second-half brace on 62 and 72 minutes sealed the win and a minute later Danny Bragoli put the icing on the cake with a fine 20-yard strike against his former club. Jamie Spencer grabbed a consolation with a minute to go with a fine individual effort in front of the 651 fans at the fixture.

Harris told www.expressandstar.com on Tuesday that winning the cup went some way towards making up for a season which had seen Chasetown finish well short of the promotion play-offs.

He said: "It was a great performance against a very good side and we won the balls in the important areas and passed it well. That is how we can play but the season has been all about consistency and unfortunately we have not had enough of that but it is something we will try and put right."

Chasetown: Price, Beckett, Slater, Robinson, Farmer, Brown (Gould 77, Stephens 82), Bragoli, Halsall, Butler, Wellecomme, Luckie (Smith 45). Subs not used: Watson, Teesdale.
Rushall Olympic: Gemmell, Turner, Tolley, Caines, Wood (Ellis 75), Mugisha, Craddock, Palmer, Martin (Obeng 57), Dance, Adebola (Spencer 69). Subs not used: Maher, Daniel.

Image courtesy of Dave Birt/Chasetown FC