In a fast-paced start to the afternoon Matt Lewis had the opening chance for the hosts as he headed a cross over the bar, while returnee Alex Steadman had the first shot for the Scholars but Lucan Spittle sliced the ball clear. Both sides had early penalty appeals turned down, Chasetown for a handball and Rushall when former Scholar Chris Morris came under fire from Chris Slater.

The visitors showed some good pace and were able to find several breakthroughs, Malachi Farquharson flagged for offside with only the keeper to beat and Mark Branch seeing his shot sent behind for a corner which was headed out by Ben Jevons.

Morris was leading the attack for the Pics but could not beat stand-in skipper Ryan Price in the Chasetown goal, while Jevons would go close with a brace of headers but the half ended goalless.

Jevons continued his good form after the break with a long range effort gathered by Rushall keeper Chris Gemmell, while the hosts countered several attacks with James Skedgel blocking one Steadman shot and Spittle closely marking Jevons as the half progressed.

Home skipper Grant Beckett saw his free kick sent wide by Christian Dacres just before the hour mark and Steadman was alert to clear Sean Platt’s cross following a corner, but on 69 minutes the deadlock was broken when Beckett’s free kick was cleared and Platt’s follow-up corner was headed down into the net by former Scholars man Spittle to put the Pics ahead.

Chase could have equalised two minutes later when Jevons headed a John Branch cross goalwards but keeper Gemmell was able to push the ball round the post, and he was on hand once again to save from Lee Parsons moments later.

Gemmell would also frustrate good efforts by Steadman and Gary Hay in the closing stages while Matty Cohen’s shot went wide of the post and Mark Branch saw a corner punched away with Jevons’s follow-up shot blocked.

Despite still more effort from Parsons and the impressive Steadman the Scholars could not find the target and tasted their first defeat of the new season.

Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Cohen, Farquharson, Steadman, Sedgemore (Perrow, 75 mins), Hay, Parsons, Jevons

Other Subs: Melbourne, Turner, Peel, Westwood (not used)