A crowd of 604 watched as two inspired substitutions eventually ended the visitor’s gallant resistance as Danny Smith came off the bench to score a spectacular 64th minute diving header and the game was put beyond the minnows ten minutes from the end with Karl Edwards adding a second.

Rainworth, who had famously reached the hallowed ground of the original Wembley Stadium in the 1982 FA Vase final, losing 3-0 the Forest Green Rovers, had already disposed of a team two tiers higher than their step six status in beating Kidsgrove in the previous round.

With Chasetown in the unusual position of being favourites for the game and at full strength for this third qualifying round tie, expectations were high, but Rainworth were to prove difficult opposition in a tight first half.

Dean Perrow had the Scholars best chance as a through ball from Craig Holland left the striker with a one on one situation with Mark Hales. The keeper managed to force Perrow wide, impeding him in the process, but the nine goal striker kept his feet to fire goal wards from a narrow angle, only to see Rainworth skipper Lee Wilkinson slide in the make a dramatic goal line clearance.

Despite some intense pressure, the home side were finding the Wrens defence tough to break down and the frustration was building up with the approach play not being matched with the final delivery. However, needing just four minutes to hang on to a goal less first half score line, Rainworth contributed to their own downfall. Central defender Barry Alberry took an off the ball kick at striker Kyle Perry as the Chasetown player was jogging past him and the referee instantly brandished a straight red card to leave the underdogs the huge task of facing the remaining 49 minutes with ten men.

Manager Rudy Funk brought on the robust Gary Wright to slot into a rearranged defence at half time and that seemed to do the trick as, despite increased possession, Chasetown just could not find the way through.

Chasetown manager Charlie Blakemore opted to introduce the lightning pace of Danny Smith for Perry and that decision turned the game. Almost instantly the substitution paid rich dividends. A hotly disputed throw in on the Chasetown left saw the ball given to Mark Branch and the attacking left back tricked his marker to get to the bye line and cut back the cross to see Smith launch himself into a diving header to steer the ball wide of Hales to net.

Church Street erupted with sight of that goal and with the full backing of Chasetown’s biggest crowd of the season behind them, the Scholars turned up the heat.

With the Wrens visibly tiring, chances were now free falling to the home side. Ben Steane struck the woodwork with a well timed effort and Chasetown skipper Lee Parsons also saw a rising shot crash against the angle of post and bar.

A rare corner from the visitors was easily cleared and right back Paul Spacey almost had the crowd on their feet once again as he embarked on a fifty yard run from defence to fire in a dipping shot that just dropped onto the top of the netting with Hales well beaten.

On 71 minutes, the hard working Perrow was replaced with Karl Edwards and how this striker loves this competition. It was Edwards who fired Chasetown into their historic first round proper tie with Oldham Athletic that put the club on the map and he certainly did not disappoint as he fired in the second that killed off the visitors.
His persistence allowed him to rob Wright on the edge of his own area and as Rainworth desperately tried to recover, the substitute hit a fierce shot across Hales to put the seal on the game in the 80th minute.
There were jubilant scenes at the final whistle as Chasetown made it to within one game of repeating that first round appearance and now eagerly await their fourth qualifying round opponents.

Chasetown: Evans, Spacey, M Branch, Slater, Thomas, Williams, Steane (J Branch), Parsons, Perry (D Smith), Perrow (Edwards), Holland

Other Subs: Twigger, Thompson (not used)