Scott Ruthven puts Stocksbridge Park Steels in front. Pic: Dave Birt

Chasetown FC’s promotion bid is over after a home defeat to Stocksbridge Park Steels.

A win for Lincoln United combined with the Scholars’ result means the play-offs are now beyond Dave Stringer’s men.

Chasetown started brightly and a header from Danny Edwards flashed wide, before an acrobatic overhead kick from the same player beat goalkeeper David Reay but came back off the post.

Nick Turton was inches wide with a right foot drive as the Scholars looked for the vital breakthrough.

As news filtered through that promotion rivals Lincoln were winning against Rugby the need for The Scholars to score intensified.

Centre back Henry Eze had a great chance midway through the half but fired a whisker wide of the post.

Chasetown committed men forward in the hope of keeping their promotion bid alive, but got caught on the break and Scott Ruthven drilled the ball past John Bateman to give Park Steels the lead.

The home side almost levelled when Marco Adaggio fired over the bar from close range and then Reay made a stunning save to deny substitute Kev Hemagou.

But the Scholars couldn’t find the breakthrough, meaning their attention will now turn towards trying to go one better next season.