Chasetown 4 Marlow 1

A Gary Birch hat-trick was the highlight of this exciting BGB Southern Division One Midlands clash.

After only six minutes Marlow keeper Kieron Drake was stretchered off, after a Chasetown corner had hit a post.

The Scholars had several chances before finally taking the lead on 27 minutes. A run down the left by Harry Harris saw him hook the ball back to Craig Holland, who smashed home.

Harris again went close before Lee Parsons departed with a knee injury.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time, the ball fell to Birch in the area and he turned to beat two defenders before placing the ball inside the far post for a fine individual goal.

Birch made it three on the hour mark when he rose unchallenged to head home a Harris free-kick.

Marlow pulled one back seven minutes later when Jonathan Case fired to Ryan Price's left, shortly after the home keeper had dived at full stretch to push a long-range effort round the post.

Dean Perrow made his return from injury to replace Danny Smith and was soon into the action, sending the ball to Birch down the right. Birch cut inside Blues skipper Chris Elsegood to send a left-footer inside the near post for his hat-trick.

A short while later he left the field to huge applause as he made way for new signing Seb Hamilton.

Chasetown: Price, J Branch (c), M Branch, Slater, Thomas, Teesdale, Holland, Parsons (Ricketts 45+), Birch (Hamilton 77), Smith (Perrow 70), Harris.

Referee: Miss SL Massey.

Attendance: 350.