Chet began a run of five homes games with a deserved win against the much improved Shelfield Villa (Walsall) who featured at least two former premier division players in their line up.
Ryan Tait and Craig Black terrorised Shelfield from the outset. Two defenders were despatched to mark Black who was dominant down the right wing.
This tactic quickly backfired and the visitors found themselves in arrears by the 4th minute. Gavin Horsfall collected the ball in the left back position; he smartly exploited space in front of him before his pin point centre was met by Tait who guided the ball into the net.
Horsfall, Stuart Talbot and Dan Lowndes ran midfield and after the opening goal the result was never in doubt.
Chet were dominant; Shaun Jessop went upfield for corners and twice headed narrowly over.
Shelfield scrambled back to level terms in the 14th minute scoring a fortunate goal from outside the area.
Honours were even for just 2 minutes. Shelfield’s obsession with Black on the right wing left acres of space on the other side. Jason Rowley took full advantage of this; his perfectly placed cross found Tait who scored with a well placed header.
Chet, who were playing in their new sky blue kit, swarmed forward; Lowndes, Talbot and Rowley (twice) all went close.
The second half was much the same; Chet sealed victory in the 65th minute when Talbot set up Tait whose shot crept in at the foot of the left post. This was his hat trick and eighteenth success of the season; Tait has scored half of the team’s goals this year.
The remainder of the match was a tame affair although the visitors were denied what looked a clear penalty; the award of this would have made the final quarter interesting.
Elsewhere two of Chet’s closest rivals, Freemans (Pelsall) and Rushall Boathouse (Walsal), lost unbeaten records; this means Royal Oak (Rushall) are the only team in the division whose destiny Chet cannot control.
All in all a good day for the Chet who were watched by their biggest attendance of the season to date.
