A dour game was won by a goal of individual brilliance from Chasetown FC substitute Paul Sullivan four minutes from full time.
The forward burst into the penalty and when many would have expected him to lay a pass into the path of Nick Wellecomme, Sullivan unleashed a fierce shot from a ridiculously tight angle which went through the legs of Kidsgrove goalkeeper Dan Read.
The Chasetown away support erupted as the goal kept The Scholars in with a chance of nipping into the play-offs, keeping close to Sutton Coldfield Town and Halesowen Town who also won by a single goal on Saturday.
The first ten minutes of the game was bright with both sides had good chances in front of goal.
In the fourth minutes, Tesfa Robinson got himself a clear shot at target from the edge of the penalty area but flashed it just a yard wide of Dan Read’s left-hand upright.
Two minutes later, a lovely build-up involving several players and a back heeled pass on the edge of the box saw leading marksman Nick Wellecomme strike a fierce first time shot which cannoned off Read’s chest and bounced to safety.
Other than a 19th minute substitution when Theo Robinson replaced the injured Jonathan Gould, the first half noteworthy incidents were very few and far between.
The Scholars started the second half brightly and Simon Brown fired a drive over the bar within the first few minutes of the restart.
Just after the hour, Chasetown had strong claims for a penalty turned down when defender Craig Dove appeared to grab the shirt of striker Gary Hay. Almost immediately afterwards, Hay caught Dove late down the left wing and received a yellow card.
Read and Price were still relatively untroubled, so the game did look like it was heading for a 0-0 draw.
With news of Sutton and Halesowen both leading, the urgency of Chasetown’s need to find a winner to keep their play-off push going was clear.
With the clock ticking down, Sullivan netted his ninth goal of the season to scenes of jubilation at the Seddon Stadium.
The Scholars know that a win over another tough Staffordshire opponent in the shape Leek Town on Tuesday will see them two points clear of Halesowen and one behind Sutton with four games remaining in the fight for the final play-off berth.
Kidsgrove Athletic: Read, Street, Dove, Espley, Parkinson, Taylor, Hill, Skelton, Curley, Nagington, Johnston. Subs not used: Reaney, Lowndes, Harry, Woods, Whitehead (none used)
Chasetown: Price, Farmer, Tesfa Robinson, Slater, Bragoli, Teesdale, Brown (Butler, 77 mins), Westwood, Wellecomme, Hay (Sullivan, 66 mins), Gould (Theo Robinson, 19 mins). Subs not used: Downes, Kisiel.
Click below to see more of Pamela Mullins’ pictures from the game:
