Manager Charlie Blakemore had to make one enforced change to a side that have stormed to the top of the league as defender Joe Williams had picked up an injury in the victory at Malvern town at the weekend. Stepping in was the experienced Kevin Thompson and making the bench for the first time was striker Kyle Perry who had recovered from a pre-season ankle injury.

It was not a good start for the visitors who conceded a dangerous free kick slightly to the left of a central position near the edge of the area. Up stepped Luke Corbett to strike a rising set piece over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Both sides settled down after that frantic start and Chasetown began to get their passing game together. Dean Perrow’s battling almost caught out the Villagers when he robbed Richard Mansell in the area to force a saw from keeper Paul Tassell, but from the resulting corner the threat was ended by a foul on the keeper.

Chasetown were aggrieved when a handball offence looked to have taken place inside the Bishops Cleeve box, however after the award of a direct free right on the edge of the area, Nick Hawkins ensured that the Scholars took full advantage of the situation as he drilled a low shot beneath a leaping defensive and past an unprepared Tassell on the half hour mark.

After that, the visitors upped the pace and after Paul Spacey had played in Dan Smith, the lively forward made it to the bye line before cutting the ball back for the incoming Perrow and his close range header slammed against the crossbar.

It took just three minutes after the interval for Chasetown to take the lead for the first time. A deep corner from Mark Branch saw defender Vaughan Thomas produce an impressive leap to guide a header back across the keeper and into the far corner of the net to register his first league goal of the season for the Scholars.

There was no looking back for the visitors after that strike as Chasetown extended their lead in the 54th minute. Perrow proved too much for the Cleeve defenders as he jinxed past three home players to lash high into the net from a ridiculous angle.

An awkward fall by Dan Smith saw the forward have to leave the field with a suspected bruised collarbone and Perry was immediately brought on to partner Perrow up front.

Another excellent delivery from Branch saw Spacey’s on target header cleared off the line at the far post.

With nine minutes remaining an increasingly frustrated home side were reduced to ten men when the experienced ex-Cheltenham defender John Brough completely lost his head in the Villagers area. After Perry had tried to take advantage of another Chasetown attack, the striker was left with a head injury after an altercation with the big centre half. The referee halted play to consult with his assistant and promptly brandished a straight red card to add to the earlier yellow that Brough had earned.

Confusion then reigned as the official indicated a free kick outside the area, but after another conference with his assistant, that was swiftly changed to the award of a penalty. Perrow lashed in the spot kick for his sixth game in four games and with the game won, was promptly replaced by Paul McMahon to receive an appreciative reception from the travelling Scholars fans.

With Russell Peel making his way into the area with his first touch of the game right on the 90 minutes, the substitute never got the chance of a second as he was shoved over in the area for the award of a second penalty and the chance for Kyle Perry to open his Chasetown account. But the big striker’s fierce kick slammed against the crossbar.

Chasetown: Evans, Spacey, Branch (Peel), Slater, Thomas, Thompson, Steane, Parsons, D Smith (Perry), Perrow (McMahon), Hawkins

Other Subs: Holland, S Smith (not used)