After the belated postponement of Tuesday night’s fixture at Pelsall Villa, the trip to Rugby became Chasetown FC’s first pre-season game of the campaign.
Chasetown lined up with debuts for Lawrence Heward, Darren Stride, Jake Sedgemore and Alex Steadman, with two further debutants on the bench in the shape of Adebayo Ajidahun and Malachi Farquharson.
The Scholars started brightly and deservedly took the lead just short of the half hour mark. Danny Smith’s skill took him into the penalty area and, rather than electing to shoot, he looked up and teed the ball into the path of Ramone Stephens whose goalbound shot took a deflection on its way past Smith in the Rugby goal.
New signing Alex Steadman almost netted a second Chasetown goal when his shot came back off the post after the slightest touch from the Rugby keeper.
Five minutes before half-time Rugby should have levelled, but Preston blazed over Ryan Price’s crossbar from close range.
Chasetown started the second half brightly and Dean Perrow was narrowly wide with a low shot before the customary pre-season substitutions started to kick in.
Midway through the half, former Scholars favourite Ben Steane really should have equalised, inexplicably missing the target from close range with a header when it looked easier to score.
As the half wore on Rugby looked the stronger and the fact they had played other friendlies prior to the game was beginning to show. That said, the Scholars had put in a useful work-out, with Danny Smith leading the line and shading the man of the match award, with promising performances from the new boys.
On Tuesday (July 19), Charlie Blakemore splits his squad for two friendlies on the same night. Mixed teams from the first team and reserves will play at AFC Wulfrunians and Walsall Wood as the countdown to the season continues.
Rugby Town: Smith, Moran, Reece, Preston, Gourlay, Gunderlach, Steane, Civzelis, Fagan, Hamilton, Westley. Subs: Goodbody, da Costa, Wilson, Evans, Khan, Thomas
Chasetown: Price, Turner, Heward, Slater, Stride, Teesdale, Stephens, Sedgemore, Smith, Perrow, Steadman. Subs: Parsons (Sedgemore 78), J Branch (Smith 78), Westwood (Perrow 75), Farmer (Turner 60), M Branch (Heward 78), Farquharson (Stride 60), Ajidahun (Stephens 67), Sargeant (not used).