Chasetown could have taken the lead right from the kick-off when Danny Quinn powered forward only to shoot wide, a feat he repeated twice more in the first half on a day when the former Hednesford man’s luck was out. Two minutes in a cross from Mark Hands was headed on by Dean Perrow but Steels keeper Ben Scott was able to gather.

The Scholars enjoyed a further chance on 33 minutes when skipper Richard Teesdale headed down to Dean Perrow who set up Quinn but Scott palmed his shot away.

Chasetown lost Chris Slater with a groin injury on 40 minutes and Jack Farmer replaced him, while the Steels had a good chance to take the lead when a move down the left fed Scott Hogan whose cross found Jack Muldoon but he dragged his shot wide.

After the break the two sides traded shots and crosses before on 54 minutes new signing Courtney Pitt and Farmer combined to lose the ball in the Steels half allowing Matt Gelling to put through Stirrup and he smashed his shot home to put the hosts ahead. This was the only blip of a good Scholars debut for former League player Pitt, but after falling behind the visitors’ confidence seemed to wane slightly. Muldoon and Matt Telling both enjoyed chances for Stocksbridge, the former firing over the bar and the latter saved by Ryan Price.

Stirrup completed his double on 75 minutes when winger Mark Whitehouse sent a shot into the six-yard box and Stirrup guided the ball past Price in the Scholars goal.

Pitt’s fine debut was continuing and two minutes later his left-footed shot forced Scott into a good save, while Price saw plenty of action in the final ten minutes with Stirrup denied his hat-trick from a free kick while the Scholars keeper thwarted Hogan on two occasions.

Chasetown: Price, Lycett, M Branch, Slater (Farmer, 40 mins), Turner, Teesdale, Hands, Stride (Cresswell, 67 mins), Quinn (Birch, 67 mins), Perrow, Pitt

Other Subs: Downes, Bridgwater (not used)