Chad Degville-Cross spared the new-look Scholars’ blushes by slotting home a last minute equaliser against a Gresley outfit who thought they had avenged their 9-1 mauling at the Moat Ground in September.
Injuries and suspensions left manager Andy Penny with a make-shift team after signing four players from the Academy on Thursday evening.
Other than an early near miss from Gresley’s Rikki Birch, Chasetown dominated for the first half an hour against the shaky visitors who gave the impression they were still haunted by memories of that earlier hammering.
Things didn’t get any better for them as he hosts duly took the lead when birthday boy Jonathan Gould was first to meet a Gresley clearance and produced a sensational 25 yard strike.
Two minutes later Gresley broke forward but Rikki Shepard missed a dead-cert from a yard out when he failed to convert Birch’s cross.
Chasetown upped the tempo again and Tom Brown produced a magnificent drive from 20 yards which Gresley keeper George Woodward was equal to as he pushed it over the bar.
Jack Hulin was unlucky with a cheeky chip and David Leese tested Woodward from a free kick on the half hour mark, and then again after dribbling out of midfield and letting loose a screamer.
As Gresley held on they began to look more comfortable and started playing attractive football. Defender Adam Stockdale headed them back into the game from a Jordan Dent corner after 36 minutes.
Following the equaliser the match pattern changed as the visitors confidence grew they looked worthy of a team sitting third in league. And it was they who were closest to exiting the half ahead when Birch fired over a Rikki Shepard cross.
Gresley, still possessing their new-found self belief, were strongest out the gate in the second period.
Dent missed an ideal chance to equalise within two minutes. Ten minutes later he went clear once more but failed to convert as Mark Wiggins successfully limited his shooting angle.
Demonstrating the type of mettle that had deluded them in the opening 30 minutes of the match, Gresley’s attacks become more sporadic as they went for the jugular. From one Jordan Dent screwed a volley across goal and Birch also missed another unbelievable opening.
As expected, the pressure paid off and the Moatmen found themselves 2-1 up. Dent made no mistake with a curling shot this time after latching on to fantastic through ball from Will Simpson in midfield.
Three minutes later Simpson himself surely believed he had sealed the victory until Wiggins heroically pushed his effort on to the post. Wiggins then further impressed, keeping out a Ryan Browne effort and a Adam Halifax 30 yard free kick. Dent also rocketed a shot against the post but the hosts rode their luck to keep the deficit down to one goal.
For Chasetown, Mathew Wood remained calm during the onslaught and delivered a reminder of his ability to perform under pressure, shielding the back four confidently, disrupting the waves of Gresley attacks and re-distributing the ball effectively on an afternoon that was looking increasingly difficult for the league leaders.
But it was a young side with an average age of 18 that Penny had been forced to field due to lack of resources. The 16 and 17 year olds from the Academy can be proud of their brave debuts in a state of siege against experienced opposition.
With ten minutes remaining Chasetown, aware that they were in grave danger of losing their unbeaten record, went in search of salvaging a point and the swing of play changed direction once more. Substitute Stu Birt produced a fantastic header that Woodward tipped behind. He then thought he had pulled it back with a screaming volley but Woodward was there again to block it out.
Just as Gresley believed they had secured a fantastic victory the 90th minute equaliser came. In the last attack of the day, Degville-Cross was expertly positioned to prod home the loose ball after Tom Brown’s shot had been partially deflected away.
Chasetown: Wiggins (capt), Degville-Cross, Gould, Webley (James), Hulin, Sowe, Brown, Wood, Archer (Birt), Alalade, Leese (Davies). Subs not used: Darby, Hill.
