Dave Egan and Ryan Price’s return from injury was doubtlessly a boost for the side as they played exciting football throughout the 90 minutes, quelling the home side’s early pace and creating plenty of chances.

A fast-paced start saw Sports create the first attack but the Chasetown defence were able to clear Keiran O’Connell’s burst on the left for a corner before a further effort from Kyle Steadman saw him skew his shot wide of the far post.

Price pulled off a fine save in the seventh minute to deny Eric Graves at the near post before the Scholars entered a couple of crosses of their own, but again Sports fought hard and Karl Ashton saw his shot fly high and wide under pressure in the 12th minute.

Ben Jevons and welcome returnee Egan were working hard at the front for Chasetown, the latter attempting to lob keeper Chris Dodsley but not quite completing the move after Jevons and Gary Birch had set up the latest attack.

A free kick from the left from Gary Birch in the 20th minute saw the ball slice across the flailing Dodsley and into the corner of the net to put the Scholars in front.

Mickleover’s response was immediate but Price got behind Steadman’s shot and was called into action again seven minutes later, before Birch’s solo run down the centre seeking a second saw his shot fly narrowly over the bar.

In the 37th minute the hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul by keeper Price and Colin Hoyle stepped up to lash his spot-kick into the roof of the net and level the scores.

O’Connell could have put Sports in front on 42 minutes but his shot went wide of the far post, and a close-run and entertaining half drew to a close with both sides in high spirits.

The second half got underway in perfect fashion for the Scholars when Hoyle conceded a foul in the box and Perrow stepped up to send the resulting penalty into the bottom corner of the net and put the visitors back in front.

On 53 minutes Birch seemed certain to have added a third as he found a gap in the defence and slotted home into the corner, but the linesman’s flag was up. Confusion soon turned to jubilation for the Scholars as referee Weaver overruled his assistant and the goal was awarded, Mickleover skipper Liam Walshe shown the red card for dissent in the ensuing protest.

The Scholars were now in control and on 66 minutes Chris Morris flew down the centre of the field before squaring the ball out to Egan on the right, but the midfielder’s cross was too far forward and went out for a goal kick.

Egan was playing superbly on his comeback and unleashed further attacks down the left but was frustrated each time by the Sports defence, while on 82 minutes Birch had the chance to complete his hat-trick as another penalty was awarded but his spot-kick cannoned off the post.

Mickleover forced one last attack but Karl Ashton’s shot went wide of the post which just about summed up the hosts’ evening as Chasetown kept their playoff push alive with three more points.

Chasetown: Price, Turner, J Branch, Slater, Cohen, Teesdale, Davies, Egan, Birch, Perrow (Morris, 57 mins), Jevons

Other Subs: Smith, Stephens, Parsons, M Branch (not used)