Richard Teesdale volleys home a late equaliser for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Richard Teesdale volleys home a late equaliser for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

Skipper Richard Teesdale rescued a point for Chasetown FC with two minutes to go in a fine contest against Nantwich Town FC.

Despite lying near the foot of the Evo-Stik Premier League table, the Cheshire side proved resilient and tough opponents and took the game well to the Scholars in a close-run affair.

Chasetown had the better of the first few minutes but the Dabbers defence looked lively, although their skipper Chris Flynn departed through injury after just ten minutes.

Jake Sedgemore fired in a long range shot for the visitors in the 14th minute following a free kick but his effort flew over the bar, and a second free kick was cleared by Mark Branch as the hosts began to battle back.

Things remained even until the 23rd minute when some aggression down the Scholars right saw the ball crossed to Gary Hay and Ramone Stephens in front of goal and the former rounded keeper Ben Chapman to fire the Scholars into the lead.

Nantwich were still proving a danger in front of goal and on the half hour a scramble saw substitute Nathan Southern find a gap and he poked the equaliser home from close range after some confusion from the Scholars defence saw them fail to clear.

Chasetown were right back on the attack with Stephens forcing keeper Ben Chapman into a good save on 33 minutes, but still the Dabbers pressed with Dave Whittaker firing just wide following a free kick while Sedgemore rifled a shot over the bar.

Appeals for a penalty for the visitors were turned down after Stephens and Michael Carr collided on the edge of the area, and an entertaining first half somewhat fittingly finished level.

Nantwich suffered a further blow five minutes into the second half when Michael Carr limped off, and the Scholars turned up the wick accordingly with two early chances narrowly missing the target.  Stephens was displaying his usual good pace and his cross-cum-shot on 56 minutes was cleared by Charlie Reeves before Ben Jevons failed to take advantage from close range.

Dave Egan just failed to find the net following a Gary Hay cross on the hour, the midfielder then heading a Mark Branch corner into Chapman’s arms.  The Scholars were still piling on the pressure but could not quite find the net, Gary Birch seeing his effort headed off the line by Reeves when he looked certain to score.

On 65 minutes, however, the Dabbers took the lead against the run of play when Glynn Blackhurst and Ashley Carter burst clear out of nowhere and the latter fired a right-footed shot past Ryan Price into the far corner.

Chasetown's Ben Jevons battles for the ball. Pic: Dave Birt
Chasetown's Ben Jevons battles for the ball. Pic: Dave Birt

Egan was right back on the attack moments later but this time fired over the bar, and seemed fated not to score as another effort was cleared on 76 minutes.

The rest of the Scholars seemed to be sharing Egan’s luck as the target could not be found, Jevons’s header going inches wide with six minutes on the clock and Chapman diving to palm away Mark Branch’s free kick.

With two minutes to go the dam was finally broken as Grant Ryan sent in a cross from the right and Teesdale was perfectly placed to blast the ball right-footed in off the crossbar and level the scores.

It’s back to FA Trophy action this Saturday (October 30) for the Scholars as they head to Derbyshire to take on Mickleover Sports (3pm kick-off).

Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Turner, Parsons, Teesdale (c), Stephens, Egan, Birch, Hay, Jevons.  Subs: Ryan (Stephens 75), Bridgewater (Parsons 66), Edwards, Cohen, Thompson (Hay 85).
Nantwich: Chapman, Ashley Carter, Doughty, Flynn (c), Reeves, Carr, Sedgemore, Blackhurst, Whittaker, Lennon, Blake.  Subs: Southern (Flynn 10), Aspinwall (Blackhurst 79), Arron Carter (Carr 50), Street, Tinson.