With Radio WM amongst the crowd to celebrate Non-League Day, an evenly matched opening first half hour saw precious few gilt-edged goal scoring opportunities.

Just before the half hour, Karl Ashton dragged a shot wide of the upright for the visitors, with Chasetown responding with a Danny Smith effort which visiting keeper Chris Whiteley had to palm away.

In the 37th minute, striker Paul Sullivan was felled in the penalty area and Referee Mr Dadley had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Simon Brown, joint leading goalscorer going into the game, made no mistake from the spot, with his 6th goal of the season. The goal came with a price though, as Brown, who had been outstanding in the first half, immediately went off injured with a recurrence of the injury that had kept him out of the two preceding games.

Mickleover were revitalised in the second half, with former Scholar Alex Steadman at the heart of much of what the Derbyshire side could create. On 54 minutes, Price clung onto a Steadman shot, while three minutes later Steadman fired over the bar after Price had initially punched clear.

Steadman again tested the Chasetown goal with a drive into the side-netting and Sports skipper Danny Martin forced Price to fingertip over the bar with a long range effort.

Chasetown had five 19-year olds on the pitch and one of them, Jono Gould was a whisker away from giving his side a 2-0 advantage with a shot that flashed narrowly wide of Whiteley’s left hand post.

Within a minute though, Mickleover’s dominance finally paid off with a deserved equaliser when Alex Steadman netted from close range.
Chasetown’s attempts at goal were half chances at best, with Gould and Paul Sullivan combining for Andrew Westwood who shot over the bar, and Danny Smith tested Whiteley with a shot straight at the keeper from outside the box.

Craig Harris’ men almost gifted Mickleover the lead ten minutes from time. Price bowled the ball out to left back Matt Jackson who was caught in possession by Eric Graves who fed substitute Martin Smythe, who could only find the side-netting with Price beaten.

Price palmed a left-footed Karl Ashton effort onto the crossbar as the Derbyshire side ended the game more strongly but Chasetown clung on for a point – their third in the last four league games.

Chasetown: Price, Downes, Jackson, Farmer, Bate (Saunders, 82 mins), Teesdale, Westwood, Egan, Sullivan (Archer, 88mins), Smith, Brown (Gould, 38 mins)

Other subs: M Branch, Evans (not used)