Manager Craig Harris got another good look at his squad, ahead of the new season with a confident performance against Southern Premier side Redditch United.
Harris named seven of the starting 11 that had begun the game against Crewe Alexandra on Monday, and the consistent personnel from the opening friendly insured that The Scholars made a positive start, passing the ball quickly and accurately to put their higher league opposition under test.
There were plenty of positives in the opening 45 minutes, with the best chance falling to Monday’s goalscorer Chris Russell, who perhaps should have shot himself, instead teeing up Gary Hay, who fired just over the bar from 12 yards.
The hosts had a chance disallowed for offside, but Ryan Price was otherwise rarely troubled, with the centre back pairing of Richard Teesdale and Jon Richardson defending a high line, restricting United.
Just before the break left back Jon Patrick advanced into the penalty after a neat one-two, but only a lack of a sweet contact prevented the former Stafford Rangers man adding to his midweek goal after a run out for Chasetown Reserves.
Goalkeeper Lee Evans and Jonathan Gould entered the action at half-time, a huge vote of confidence for Gould after his impressive display against Crewe on Monday.
Redditch took the lead with a goal that The Scholars would have been disappointed with. Matt Johnson sold Lee Evans short with a backpass and the Redditch striker closed in on Evans as he tried to clear, blocking Evans’ clearance and having the easiest of chances to slot home.
The Scholars created plenty of chances however. Andy Westwood curled an effort wide of the post, before Matt Jukes mistimed a header from a Mark Branch cross, putting it wide when he perhaps should’ve hit the target.
Tom Worthington (who netted a brace in midweek for the Reserves at Heath Hayes) forced a save from the Redditch Number One as Harris’ men pushed for an equaliser which they would have fully deserved.
Chasetown: Price (Evans), Johnson, Patrick (Branch), Bate (Maguire), Richardson (Slater), Teesdale (Parsons), Westwood (Lycett), Hands, Russell (Worthington), Hay (Jukes), Wright (Gould).