The Scholars had the better of the opening exchanges and home keeper Alessandro Barcherini had to be at his best to keep out the first real effort of the game, a shot from the returning Gary Hay which was saved well.

It was no surprise when the visitors were ahead in the 26th minute. Mark Branch swung in a corner which was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, where Andy Westwood drilled in a low shot which Barcherini saw late – dummied through the legs of a Chasetown striker – and the ball was past him and in the bottom left hand corner of his goal before he even reacted.

A solitary effort from Wrens striker Karl Slack was all the Nottinghamshire side could muster in the first period, and, in a crowd of 81 where a conservative estimate would say that half of the crowd were travelling supporters, the consensus was that a second goal would kill off the hosts.

That came true two minutes before the half-time interval. Chasetown counter-attacked quickly and Theo Robinson was put clear from midfield and was bearing down on goal. His attempt to chip Barcherini was thwarted with the goalkeeper flinging himself to his left, but he was unable to get enough strength to push the ball behind for a corner, only succeeding in laying the ball on a plate to Gary Hay who steered the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Rainworth offered nothing in the first half to give Chasetown any sort of a challenge. In fact, the only threat to Chasetown’s victory came during the half time interval. A fire at a nearby allotment was causing significant smoke to drift across the central area of the pitch and Referee Mr Eagland delayed the start of the second half until it was certain that there was sufficient visibility and safety from the smoke to continue.

The home side had sustained periods of ball possession at the start of the delayed second period but were still unable to threaten Ryan Price in the Chasetown goal.

It was however a case of how many Chasetown could score, and midway through the half, the visitors broke quickly and Hay almost notched a second with a chipped effort that Barcherini did well to hold onto.

Price was eventually called into action to keep out a deflected strike from Blair Anderson 19 minutes from time.

Andy Westwood drove an effort inches wide of the post when substitute Danny Ashton set him up as Craig Harris’ men created a flurry of late chances.

With 10 minutes remaining, Greg Downes motored down the right and drilled in a low cross which perhaps leading goalscorer Nick Wellecomme should have netted, but instead he saw home skipper Mark Camm clear off the line. Then, Paul Sullivan forced Barcherini into action as the home keeper rushed off his line to avert the danger.

Chasetown had a late penalty appeal turned down by Mr Eagland, but their travelling supporters would have little complaints at a solid team performance that moved Chasetown four places up the league table.

Chasetown: Price, Downes, Branch, Farmer, Tesfa Robinson, Bate, Westwood, Saunders (Ashton, 63 mins), Wellecomme, Hay (Sullivan, 71 mins), Theo Robinson (Jackson, 86 mins)

Other Subs: Clarke-O’Connell, Kisiel (not used)