Before a reduced crowd with many opting to take in England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales, the action at Wembley almost mirrored a rather uninspiring night at the Scholars Ground. Kieran O’Connell gave Sports the lead from the penalty spot shortly before half time, but the result was rendered irrelevant after winger Branch was stretchered off with a suspected broken kneecap in the closing minutes.

The visitors had the first chance with John Guy’s free kick went over Ryan Price’s crossbar before Dean Perrow – on his first start for a few games – crossed from the left and skipper Darren Stride landed a glancing header which came to nought. The striker then beat the offside trap to fire in a shot after being played through by Ben Jevons but his shot cannoned off Damon Clarke’s legs.

Sports had the ball in the net on 23 minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside, while Perrow impressed again on the half hour as he drew keeper Clarke out to the right of his area but his final effort was cleared by the defence.

The stalemate continued until the 44th minute when Chris Slater conceded a penalty and O’Connell stepped up to send Price the wrong way and put the men from Derbyshire ahead going into the break.

In the second half Jordan Johnson made his Scholars debut after signing from AFC Telford United when he came on for Alex Steadman, and he was straight into the action forcing a corner which was headed clear. The half became a succession of corners with no real flow to the play, Mark Branch the only Scholar to go close to the target with a pair of free kicks.

Johnson enjoyed a chance following a further Mark Branch free kick but could not add the finishing touch, while Karl Ashton broke clear for Mickleover but Price pulled off a fine save.

With two minutes to go disaster struck for John Branch as after receiving treatment following a clash he attempted to take the resulting free kick, but his knee gave way and he was stretchered off leaving the Scholars to play the closing minutes with ten men as the visitors took the spoils.

Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Stride, Cohen, Steadman (Johnson, 54 mins), Farquharson (Stephens, 71 mins), Birch, Perrow (Edwards, 81 mins), Jevons

Other Subs: Teesdale, Sedgemore (not used)