Chasetown were far from overawed by their Blue Square North opponents and put in a magnificent team display with every member of the side playing their part.

The Scholars opened well and had their first chance on four minutes when Richard Teesdale headed Jack Farmer’s cross over the bar following a corner.

Both sides had started brightly and Gareth Arnison had the first chance for the Reds but Ryan Price was able to block his shot and Teesdale cleared.

Gary Birch saw a shot blocked soon after and Ben Jevons fired the rebound wide, before Matty Cohen headed the ball out for a corner which allowed the lively Arnison to shoot from eight yards but Farmer was on hand to clear at the near post.

Ramone Stephens was as rapid as always in midfield and produced a fine run from the halfway line after 20 minutes, but his cross was cleared by the defence before Chasetown could strike.

Birch was still in attacking mode and set up his strike partner Gary Hay on the half hour, but the latter could only head into keeper Aaran Taylor’s hands, while Workington should have taken the lead on 41 minutes when Arnison capitalised on a miskick by Price, but the Reds man slid his shot wide when facing an open goal, and there was still no clear-cut advantage for either side.

The second half began with Dave Egan heading Chris Peel’s corner wide before the visitors ran things close again, Taylor halting a joint attack between Hay and Ben Jevons.

Play was held up for thirteen minutes after referee Martin Rawcliffe went down injured, and when things resumed with linesman Mark Wharmby in charge Chasetown began to push harder than ever. The Reds had a lucky escape when a clearance from Taylor went straight to Birch, but the keeper gathered the resultant shot.

Price made a fine save on 78 minutes when he came off his line to block Ryan Bowman’s shot before Taylor did likewise to deny Jevons, while Chasetown enjoyed their best chance three minutes from time. Egan headed a Jevons shot against the underside of the crossbar and as Hay followed up from the rebound a defender headed the ball over the bar.

Chasetown: Price, Farmer, Peel, Cohen, Davies, Teesdale, Stephens, Egan, Birch, Hay, Jevons

Subs: Ryan, D Smith, Bridgwater, Turner, M Branch (not used)