On the balance of play, very few supporters would have begrudged the visitors a point as the Lincolnshire side proved a difficult season opener opposition.

Brigg had the better of the opening exchanges and it was perhaps no surprise when they had the ball in the net. Just after the quarter hour mark, Jordan Thewliss netted from close range and the Zebras thought they had scored their first ever goal against The Scholars only to see their celebrations cut short by the Assistant’s flag. The visitors felt hard done by with the tightness of the decision and there were many Scholars fans who felt they had a strong case that the goal should have stood.

Brigg skipper Paul Grimes then tested Ryan Price from distance but the Scholars number one was equal to the attempt.

As the half drew on though, Chasetown got stronger and stronger and began to dominate. Following a short pass from Andy Westwood, Theo Robinson drove a fierce shot goalwards only to be denied by defender Oliver Fisher throwing himself in front of his goalkeeper to block the shot.

In the closing minutes of the half, it was the Nick Wellecomme show as Chasetown’s leading scorer from last season came into his own. In the 42nd minute, Westwood’s cross from the right found its way to Wellecomme and his crisp shot at the near post was brilliantly kept out by visiting keeper Robert Zand.

Then, a minute later, Wellecomme tested Zand with an acrobatic overhead kick which was straight at Zand, fortunately for the visitors.

Within the blink of an eye, Wellecomme – in his 50th Chasetown appearance – raced onto the end of a ricochet from midfield and reached the ball just before Zand, risking being clattered by the onrushing keeper, and got a strong touch on the ball to divert it under Zand’s body, seeing the ball roll into the empty net.

With just time for the restart before the half-time whistle blew, Chasetown knew they had struck a vital blow, as they looked to win their fifth game out of five against their opponents.

Craig Harris’ men may have dominated the second part of the first half, but it was the visitors who had the bit between their teeth at the start of the second period. Ten minutes in, Scott Matthews tested Price from range and after Price spilled the initial effort to his feet, the danger was cleared.

The game entered a scrappy phase though it did not appear that the Wellecomme goal would be the only one in the fixture.

With Brigg pushing for an equaliser, the Scholars caught the Zebras square at the back and when Wellecomme nipped in ahead of the keeper and went round Zand, he saw his near post shot come back off the frame of the goal from a tight angle.

Price again denied Grimes and then Danny Bragoli had a shot deflected wide after a powerful run from Wellecomme.

Returnee winger, Ramone Stephens, a surprise name on the Chasetown bench was a whisker away capping his return to The Scholars Ground with a curling shot that Zand clawed away.

Few would have begrudged Brigg an equaliser but late on Grimes and Matthews both tested Ryan Price but the Chase keeper stood firm to, incredibly, keep his fifth clean sheet against Brigg Town!

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Chris Slater, Louis Keenan, Grant Beckett, Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Andy Westwood, Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme (Danny Smith, 86 mins), Gary Hay (Paul Sullivan, 67 mins), Theo Robinson (Ramone Stephens, 76 mins)

Other Subs: Alex Forde, Danny Watson (not used)

Brigg Town: Zand, Fisher, Barrett, Bowsley, Hellewell, Jacklin, Ashton, Peers (Cross, 74 mins), Grimes, Thewliss, Matthews (Benson, 85 mins)

Other Subs: Wright, Trice, Waring (not used)