Still battling

It was not a happy Easter for Chasetown as they slipped back into the Evo-Stik Premier relegation places with a 2-1 defeat.

Both sides started positively in front of a sizeable crowd, former Scholars Ben Jevons leading the attack for the playoff-chasing Pitmen and he found the side netting early on before forcing a corner which was punched clear by home keeper Lee Evans. The visitors then saw claims for a penalty turned down before Courtney Pitt fired a shot over the bar for the hosts.

Chasetown took the lead on 19 minutes when a Mark Branch corner was met by Asa Charlton who headed past Pitmen keeper Dan Crane for his first Scholars goal. Dean Perrow was then bundled over in the box but Scholars penalty claims were waved away.

A Mark Branch free kick then forced Crane into a fine save as Chasetown continued to work hard, but the Pitmen would find the equaliser on the stroke of half time when Jamey Osborne – who himself had gone close with a header moments previously – crossed for Nick Wellecomme to head just inside the post and draw Hednesford level.

Chasetown kept up their momentum as the second half began with no fewer than five players finding chances in the first ten minutes while Crane spilled a cross from Danny Smith on 66 minutes but the loose ball was hacked clear.

Five minutes later a cross from Jimmy Turner just failed to find Perrow and Chris Clements was able to clear before Hednesford saw a corner collected by Evans at the second attempt as they continued to fight gamely.

With nine minutes to go a free kick from Elliott Durrell headed goalwards and despite Evans’ best efforts fellow substitute Andre Landell seized his chance and thumped the loose ball home to condemn the Scholars to their second narrow defeat in three days.

Chasetown: Evans, Turner, M Branch, Slater, Charlton, Hands (Bridgwater, 90 mins), Smith (Archer, 83 mins), Lycett, Birch, Perrow (Wright, 75 mins), Pitt

Other Subs: Farmer, Teesdale (not used)