The Scholars made a good game of it against tight and controlled opposition, but once again their luck was out in what has become a frustrating league season.

The first chance of a sunny afternoon went to the hosts when Ashley Longstaff headed Jack Watts’s cross two yards wide in the tenth minute, before Chasetown took the lead on 18 minutes following a succession of corners. On the third corner kick Richard Davies’ effort flew directly in past home keeper Ben Simpson to give the Scholars the lead.

A free kick on 23 minutes found Jimmy Turner at the far post but he was unable to find the finishing touch, and play moved up the other end rapidly with a headed chance for Athletic flying wide.

The game was fairly even thereafter with Richard Teesdale marshalling the Chasetown defence well while Mark Branch saw his 30-yard free kick fly wide of the upright, but the home side would equalise two minutes before the break. Teesdale poked a corner clear but only as far as Grant Darley allowing him to smash the ball just inside the post to level the scores.

The late first half goal had clearly fired up Frickley and they thrust forward at every opportunity after the break, Ashley Burbeary shooting wide after Watts beat the offside trap, but it was Chasetown who would find the net after 63 minutes through Ben Jevons but the goal was ruled offside.

Gary Birch fired over the bar and Teesdale saw his shot blocked but the Scholars’ best chance came in the 82nd minute. A cross from Mark Branch from the left found Jevons in space but the latter hammered his volley over the bar when he looked set to score.

One minute later and Frickley were in front when a misunderstanding between Chris Slater and keeper Ryan Price over a long ball from the home defence saw Watts burst between them to fire the ball over Price and into the empty net.

The visitors continued to work hard and Gary Hay and Birch both went close in the closing stages, but it was not quite to be for the Scholars and the home fans were left to celebrate.

Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Turner, Teesdale, Davies, Egan, Birch, Smith (Hay, 68 mins), Jevons

Other Subs: Stephens, Parsons, Morris, Cohen (not used)