With 16 minutes on the clock, Lee Cropper motored past Leon Miles and, before Chris Slater could get across to challenge, fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net beyond John Bateman, who had no chance in the Chasetown goal.

Such was the quality of the strike, a group of Cardiff City supporters who make an annual trip to watch Chasetown and some of the home supporters were applauding the quality of Cropper's strike.

The goal illuminated an otherwise very dull game with defences on top and goalkeepers largely troubled.

However, Chasetown did have the perfect opportunity to equalise late on when Simon Brown was leaned on by the defender as he tried to bear down on goal. Referee Ms Rashid had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot. The Scholars had gone out of the league cup in midweek on penalties and their luck was out this time too as Chris Fletcher dived to his right to keep out Brown's kick.