It was more the weather for ball on willow, but Boldmere and Chasetown served up a six-goal game.
The starting XI gave some of the pre-season supporting cast in the previous friendlies a chance to take the main stage with Jimmy Turner and Gary Birch the only regulars from last season in the starting line up, although the Scholars bench included Gary Hay, Mark Branch, Dean Perrow and fit again Ben Jevons.
Chasetown had the ball in the net after 14 minutes when Gary Birch headed home an Andy Westwood free-kick. The linesman’s decision was a bizarre one, raising his flag for offside when it appeared a defensive line of three players were all playing the Scholars man onside.
It mattered not. Chasetown were ahead four minutes later. A superb one-two between Theo Robinson and Adebayo Ajidahun opened up the Mikes defence, only for Robinson’s shot to be blocked, with Ajidahun’s follow up also blocked. The Mikes reprieve didn’t last long, as the ball was only partially cleared to Malachi Farquharson who placed a shot beyond Gibson from outside the area.
The lead was short-lived when Law equalised for the Midland Alliance side.
Chasetown regained the lead six minutes into the second half. Lawrence Heward’s left sided cross was too far for Gary Hay, but Ajidahun knocked the ball back across the six-yard box and Hay’s low shot wrong-footed Gibson.
The Mikes were straight back in the game and there was no disputing the penalty claims when Jack Stone handled, and Law sent Wiggins the wrong way with a neatly despatched spot kick.
The Scholars were quick to regain the lead for the third time. From kick off, Chasetown were on the offensive and forced a corner which Mark Branch teed up for Hay who headed home.
Mikes were worthy of their equalising goal. Joszef Jakab, who earlier had been denied by a great save from Mark Wiggins, burst into the penalty area and his shot was blocked by a last-ditch block from Ajidahun, but the ball flew loose to Stuart Capaldi who lashed an unstoppable effort past Wiggins.
Chasetown stopper ended the game the busier keeper, saving from Juxon just before the third Mikes equaliser and then from Jakab in the last minute.
Boldmere St Michaels: Gibson (Beeson), Gould, Brown (Weller), Stevenson, Usher, Juxon, Tulloch, K Smith, Law (Jakab),
Capaldi (Law), Pekun (J Smith).
Chasetown: Wiggins, Hulin, Heward, Turner (M Branch HT), Stone, Farquharson, Ajidahun, Westwood, Birch (Jevons 60),
T Robinson (Hay HT), K Robinson (T Robinson 60).