Chasetown improved after a half time pep talk and looked the more likely to take the points. In the end, a draw was the fair result in front of a healthy 300 plus crowd at the Romans adopted home writes Russell Brown.
Manager Charlie Blakemore opted for the same starting line up that had made the difficult midweek trip to Dunstable and new signing Lucan Spittle was named amongst the substitutes.

The home side profited from a rare mistake from Lee Evans who mishandled a Colm Tiernan cross from the right to collect at the second attempt. However, there were immediate appeals from the Romulus players that the ball had strayed over the goal line and they were backed up by the assistant on the line who signalled a goal.

That heralded a spell with Chasetown looking unusually nervous and Evans redeemed himself somewhat when he managed to scoop away a low shot from Leon Mitchell as Romulus tried to further unsettle the Scholars.

Jason Lannis also came close with a shot on the turn and Mitchell was just off target as the Romans counter attacked a rare Chasetown move towards the home side’s area.

It was noticeable that the visitors failed to record a single shot on goal in a miserable first period, but after the interval they wasted no time on rectifying that statistic.

On 50 minutes, Craig Holland found Dean Perrow on the edge of the box and the top scorer added his 15th league goal of the season, showing great control to slot wide of the stranded Matt Harris.

From that moment, Chasetown looked the more assured and Harris found himself under pressure from a Ben Steane corner. Somehow the keeper managed to scramble the ball off the line. The keeper also denied Andy Penny as Chasetown looked to fashion a winning goal.

An injury to Penny soon after that chance enabled Spittle to come off the bench and the former Willenhall Town central defender easily slotted into the heart of the Scholars defence.

Romulus, who were the first team to defeat Chasetown in the league this season, were visibly tiring and were grateful to see a Mark Branch free kick whistle past the upright as they started to concede a few dangerous set pieces. But despite turning the game around with a more assured second half performance, the Scholars just could not find that elusive finish to warrant gaining all three points.

Chasetown: Evans, J Branch, M Branch, Perry, Penny (Spittle), Williams, Steane (Clamp), Hawkins, Smith, Perrow (Lamey), Holland

Other Subs: Woodvine, Edwards (not used)