While the already relegated Nottinghamshire side battled hard early on, their inability to convert chances proved their downfall and the Scholars took control to dominate the second half after debutant Chris Morris had opened the scoring just prior to the break.

The Badgers had the first couple of attacks with a corner in the second minute plucked away by Darren Acton in the Scholars goal while a free kick from Mark Brammer on the right was headed wide of the far post.

The hosts were having the better of a fairly slow-paced opening period and a corner from Brammer was headed wide in the ninth minute, before the Scholars showed signs of a fightback via Gary Birch and Ben Jevons but the Retford defence cancelled them out each time.

A throw-in from the right by Niall O’Brien gave Matt Booth a great chance to put the Badgers ahead on the half-hour but he stabbed his shot wide from ten yards, and a couple of other close chances went begging as the hosts struggled with their finishing.

The wet conditions slowed the pace further until Chasetown took the lead in the 43rd minute when Morris netted his maiden Scholars goal from a well-timed Jimmy Turner cross and some great work by Ramone Stephens.

Chasetown continued in similar positive and attacking fashion after the break and on 55 minutes their lead was doubled when a rare John Branch corner from the left found Jevons at the far post and his neat free header nestled in the corner of the net.

The Scholars were now in control and on 69 minutes Stephens produced another fine run down the right and unleashed a perfect cross to allow Lee Parsons to head the ball off the crossbar before bouncing off keeper Luke Herriott and into the net.

Substitute Danny Smith was next to burst through after beating two defenders but his shot went over the bar, before Retford produced a good run down the right but again the finishing touch could not be provided as Sam Foulds skewed his effort wide.

Dwayne Spence made his second Scholars appearance as a second half substitute and came close to scoring with three minutes to go but his shot went wide, but Chasetown would put the lid on it and add a fourth in the first minute of stoppage time when Spence set up Smith to score despite appeals for handball from the Badgers.

Chasetown: Acton, Turner, J Branch, Slater, Davies (Bridgwater, 82 mins), Teesdale, Stephens, Parsons, Birch (Spence, 76 mins), Morris (D Smith, 72 mins), Jevons

Other Subs: Cohen, M Branch (not used)