Honours were even in a scrappy Staffordshire derby as Chasetown FC earned a draw with Kidsgrove.

2-nathan-rooney-fires-home-1-0The hosts took the lead in the eighth minute when former Scholars defender Leon Ashman wrestled Jermaine Johnson to the ground and Nathan Rooney converted the resulting penalty kick.

The visitors should have equalised when Chris Birchall was clean through on goal. Curtis Pond spread himself well to deny him and Harry Clayton’s rebound was cleared off the line by Rhys Thompson.

Kidsgrove hit the post and also blazed two efforts over the bar from close range as they carved out the better chances.

4-chris-birchell-1-1But a minute before the break Jack Langston was inches over the bar with a fiercely struck free kick as Chasetown almost doubled their lead.

Kidsgrove deservedly levelled three minutes after the break with a well worked goal that saw Birchall fire in off the bottom of the post.

Again, the visitors would have felt disappointed not to have gone on to take the lead as they began to regain control of the game.

After the midway point though, both sides were guilty of some wasteful possession and, in general, a poor second half saw limited chances at either end.

The closest the hosts came was a late Langston effort straight at Harry Pickering in the dying minutes.