Chasetown tried hard but were outpaced as the game progressed en route to a 3-0 defeat at Mickleover Sports.

The Scholars showed occasional flashes of commitment and pace, but failed to gel together as a team and were unable to keep up with their hosts in the second half.

The home side looked rapid down the wings in the opening minutes, Richard Teesdale heading away a corner and Dave Woodvine – replacing Chris Slater in the centre of defence – looking strong to counter the early attacks as was Mark Branch with some close marking.

Danny Martin fired a free kick wide of the far post in the seventh minute before the Scholars struck back, Mark Branch cutting in from the left to send a well-placed cross to Dave Egan who headed wide.

John Branch was next to go close, firing over the bar on 12 minutes, as the Scholars began to show more pace and movement at the front.  He was soon presented with another chance, but Ricky Law was able to block his shot and the action moved up the other end with Branch chasing hard, combining with Teesdale and keeper Martin Taylor to clear a corner off the line.

Danny Smith then shot wide following some fine work down the right by the visitors before the pendulum swung once again, Taylor hanging on to a shot by Alex Steadman from six yards, and the lively and unpredictable action continued with home keeper Tom Whittle somehow denying Smith in the scramble following a corner.

It was Mickleover who took the lead, however, as in the 28th minute Steadman broke clear of Woodvine down the left and beat Taylor to side-foot the ball home.

Steadman did likewise down the centre one minute later but this time Taylor was able to gather, while Joe Carter stopped Gary Birch from shooting in the 33rd minute as the Scholars fought back but were unable to break the dam in front of goal.

Birch beat a defender into the centre on 40 minutes but fired inches over the bar, while Mark Branch’s free kick was halted by Whittle as the Scholars were still unable to find a way through.

Manager Charlie Blakemore had clearly rallied his troops during half time as the side appeared much more positive at the start of the second half.

Home skipper Liam Walshe fired a free kick over the bar after Woodvine was booked for a challenge on Law, with substitute Ben Steane then finding Birch at the near post with a set piece from the left but the ball was scooped away for a corner.

Taylor was then called into action to superbly punch away an effort from Law on the right before doing likewise to the ensuing corner, and the experienced goalkeeper continued to impress with several saves.

Grant Ryan was introduced to the attack in Smith’s place on 66 minutes and was quickly involved, being denied at close range by Whittle at the near post following a Birch cross.  Kieran O’Connell then burst through from the right for Sports, but Woodvine was on hand to halt his chance at goal.

A second attempt by the striker two minutes later was stopped by Vaughan Thomas, and the action began to swing from end to end once again as both teams dug deep.

Taylor then stretched to his right to deny Law once again following a good movement down the left by Mickleover, with Thomas then charging in at the near post to lash Eric Graves’s shot away for a corner.  The resultant kick saw Mickleover double their lead, however, as Steadman popped up unmarked to send the ball into the roof of the net for his second.

Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors as Sports were awarded a penalty after Mark Branch collided with Graves in the area, and Colin Hoyle stepped up to fire down the centre as Taylor dived to his left.

Thereafter the impetus seemed to wane for the Scholars, although Richard Batchelor worked hard on the left in the closing stages, while Carter headed away a late free kick from Mark Branch at the far post.  The latter’s brother had their final chance in stoppage time, but Whittle got behind his effort from the right.

The club’s attention now switches to the UniBond League Cup as the Scholars take on Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).

Mickleover: Whittle, S Carter, J Carter, Walshe (c), Hoyle, Strzyzewski, Graves, Martin, Steadman, O’Connell, R Law.  Subs: Wilson (S Carter 84), Fell (R Law 74), T Law (O’Connell 78).
Chasetown: Taylor, J Branch, M Branch, Woodvine, Thomas, Teesdale (c), Holland, Bragoli, Birch, D Smith, Egan.  Subs: Ryan (D Smith 66), Steane (Holland 45), Batchelor (Bragoli 45), Miller, Horton.