BLUES CONFIRM SECOND PLACE

A 3-2 victory over Chasetown wrapped up a second place finish for Blues and with it guaranteed home advantage in the end of season play-offs.

Lee Casswell named an unchanged side following the 1-0 success over Gresley on Wednesday evening.

It took Leek just eight minutes to take the lead when Tyler Williams (pictured) broke down the left and then slipped the ball passed John Bateman in the Chasetown goal.

The Scholars were level seven minutes later when the referee awarded a somewhat harsh-looking penalty for a challenge on Nick Turton by Rhys Thompson, Simon Brown converted the spot-kick sending James Martin the wrong way.

Darren Chadwick cleared a Nathan Waite header off line four minutes later and Ant Danylyk had a shot just over the bar but 1-1 was a fair reflection of the opening half.

Martin was called into action to save a shot from Waite before Chasetown took the lead on 55 minutes. A cross from Danny Edwards was diverted in at the near post by Karl Espley with Martin wrong-footed.

Despite this setback Blues roared back and were level in just three minutes thanks to some magnificent play from Williams.

A superb run down the left got him in round the back to the by-line, his cross was marginally behind Grice who could not turn it in, but the loose ball fell to Jordan Johnson who rammed it home from 8 yards.

It was 3-2 in the 66th minute when Johnson's corner from the right was headed perfectly into the far corner by Tim Grice for his 31st goal of the season.

The home side had a chance to equalise late on when Francino Francis took the ball around Martin but he could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Team: Martin, Thompson, Jackson, Mullarkey (Maguire, 66), Espley, Chadwick, Danylyk, Burrell, Grice, Johnson Williams

Unused subs: Donnelly, Rogers, Baker, Chapman

Attendance: 178