Despite an opening day 3-0 reverse, Market Drayton were strong out of the blocks and after just 6 minutes, Darryl Proffitt fashioned an early chance which only just cleared Ryan Price’s crossbar.

After their snappy start, the home side deservedly took the lead in the 10th minute when skipper Paul McMullen was given the freedom of the penalty area to head home from close range.

Proffitt was again the instigator of the hosts next chance as he teed up Yannick Makota whose shot dribbled beyond Price to be cleared from the far post.

Price denied Makota who shot on the turn as Market Drayton turned up the heat.

As the half progressed, an unchanged Chasetown side finally got a grip of the game and a Nick Wellecomme header was cleverly flicked on by Gary Hay into the path of Andy Westwood who was crowded out with Danny Bragoli firing the loose ball which was blocked by Rob Stevenson in front of his goalkeeper.

A Danny Bragoli shot was held by Damien Stevens in front of his body after neat build up play between Chris Slater and Westwood, with the half ending with a Westwood shot over the bar after the ball sat up nicely on the edge of the box.

Manager Craig Harris made a change at half time, replacing Theo Robinson with Ramone Stephens but it was his double substitution on 63 minutes that almost reaped immediate dividends.

Within seconds of coming on – his 350th appearance for the club – Danny Smith rattled the crossbar with a right footer which had Stevens beaten all ends up.

Five minutes later, Wellecomme almost doubled his tally for the season with a near post shot which Stevens saved with his legs.

With the visitors now dominating, the Scholars suffered a cruel blow when Market Drayton doubled their lead against the run of play. Rapid wing play from Rob Stevenson took him beyond Louis Keenan and he cut the ball back from the bye-line into the path of Makota who finished sweetly inside Price’s right hand post.

Chasetown had a succession of dangerous corners that kept their opponents under pressure and they finally reduced the arrears six minutes from time. Wellecomme got to the bye-line near the post and drilled the ball across the box where Stephens netted at the far post to give Chasetown hope.

In the final minute, Keenan’s free kick eluded everyone and was a whisker wise, but in stoppage time Chasetown thought they were denied a spot kick when they felt Paul Sullivan was tripped inside the penalty area. Referee Mr Hobday checked with his linesman but awarded a free kick inches outside the 18-yard box but Sullivan’s free kick was wasted and the last chance to grab a point had gone.

Market Drayton Town: Stevens, Jones, Ting, McMullen, Hall, Campbell (Peel, 83 mins), Stevenson, Blake, Makota, Brown, Proffitt (Foy, 83 mins)

Other subs: Westray, Hawcroft, Crawford (not used)

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Chris Slater, Louis Keenan, Grant Beckett, Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Andy Westwood (Danny Smith, 63 mins), Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme, Gary Hay (Paul Sullivan, 63 mins), Theo Robinson (Ramone Stephens, HT)

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