MISERABLE MONTH ENDS WITH ANOTHER DEFEAT

Blues will glad to see the back of January after slumping to a fourth defeat in five games throughout the month.

As promised, Neil Baker made changes to his starting line-up with Danny Roberts, Dan Trickett-Smith and Sam Hall all coming in to the side.

Town started well and should have gone ahead in the 3rd minute when the ball fell to the unmarked Scott Lycett around the penalty spot, but he shot over the crossbar.

Rob Stevenson had a shot that went just wide of the post and Trickett-Smith curled a free-kick across goal that no-one could touch in as Blues bossed the opening 20 minutes.

However Chasetown gradually began to show as an attacking force and Roberts made three great saves in the space of six minutes to keep the scores level.

The first two were at full stretch to push efforts around the post whilst the third was low down by the post with his legs.

There was however, nothing Roberts could do about the opening goal on 38 minutes as Jack Langston's shot took a deflection off the head of Sam Hall into the net,

Five minutes after the break the Scholars were two up when Muzzy Nduna's fired low past Roberts.

Blues were given a lifeline on 69 minutes when Chasetown's Callum Lovatt was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Four minutes later Blues substitutes Sam Grimshaw and Tim Grice combined to pull a goal back. Grimshaw whipped in a low cross from the left which Grice finished from close range.

Two minutes later the Scholars were sensationally reduced to nine men when Will Whieldon and Jordan Lemon tussled for the ball.

Lemon went to ground and Whieldon appeared to leave a foot in on him and was duly shown a red card by the referee.

Town threw everything into getting an equaliser with Stevenson and Green having efforts saved.

Grimshaw had two chances in added time, his first was a header that went wide, the second a shot well saved by the keeper with his legs.

There were wild celebrations from the Chasetown players, staff and fans at the final whistle, a sharp contrast to the dejected mood of the Leek camp.

Team: Roberts, Green, Lemon, Grocott, Lycett, Chadwick, Maguire, Hall, Johnson, Trickett-Smith, Stevenson

Unused subs: Whitehead, Kearns

Yellow card: Lemon

Attendance: 331

Match sponsored by Stanic Motors