In a match where the defensive elements of both sides effectively won out, the Scholars enjoyed marginally more chances than their hosts but the action for the most part was scrappy and uninspiring.

Chasetown were the first of the two relegation-threatened sides to settle in and in the second minute Gary Birch spotted keeper Scott Hartley off his line but his attempted lob went wide, while at the other end Steve Ridley enjoyed a pair of chances for the Bucks but Richard Teesdale was able to clear his first and the second shot went wide.

A move between Jack Farmer and Mark Hands down the right then came to nothing, and both defences then took control with neither side able to make any major inroads.

On 38 minutes a Mark Branch free kick found Levi Reid whose cross bounced off the top of the bar and down to Birch whose effort was cleared. The latter and Reid continued to impress, combining at a corner kick on 41 minutes but Michael Towey headed clear.

Buxton started the second half like a team possessed and Ryan Price had to quell early chaos in the box while Teesdale blocked a shot from skipper Mark Reed. Chasetown’s chances saw Kingsley James send a free kick direct to keeper Hartley before the loanee just failed to meet a well-placed Branch cross on 66 minutes.

Jimmy Turner then blocked a cross from substitute Martin Pembleton for a corner which was headed goalwards by the Bucks forwards and Price dived at full stretch to palm the ball away. The home side were pressing hard for a winner but the Scholars fought back in equal measure and no goals were forthcoming.

Chasetown had their best chances to snatch the win in the closing minutes when James saw his shot bounce back off Hartley after beating two defenders, the Bucks keeper then making a double save from Danny Smith and Linden Dovey in the dying seconds.

Chasetown: Price, Farmer, M Branch, Slater, Turner, Teesdale, Reid (Wright, 82 mins), Hands, Birch (Dovey, 68 mins), Perrow (Smith, 74 mins), James

Other Subs: Westwood, Stride (not used)