The Nottinghamshire side took the lead early on after Richard Teesdale conceded a free kick. Jordan Claxton floated the ball in and Jason Bradley had a free header which left Ryan Price with no chance.

Chasetown looked out of sorts but did have a golden chance to level when Tesfa Robinson chipped up a cross after a corner was partially cleared and Nick Wellecomme put a header from 6 yards over the bar.

Claxton almost added a second for the hosts with a right footer which fizzed past Price’s right hand post.

Chasetown had struggled to create a clear goal scoring opportunity in the first half but almost levelled in the second when a strong left foot from keeper James Martin kicked away an Andy Westwood drive after Ramone Stephens had teed him up from the inside left channel.

Within seconds of Chasetown’s chance going a-begging Rainworth doubled their advantage when Chase skipper Richard Teesdale turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Nathan Modest, and then four minutes later team mate Chris Slater also netted in his own goal attempting to clear another Nathan Modest effort.

To Chasetown’s credit, they did try and find a way back into the game from what could have been a demoralising position of the double setback.

Last year’s top scorer Wellecomme drove a shot inches wide of the post with James Martin beaten and then Stephens had a dream chance as he took the ball beyond the home keeper, only for a cruel bobble causing the winger to mis-kick his effort wide of an open goal.

Wellecomme eventually netted a consolation goal with a sweet low left foot shot inside the keeper's post which had Martin acknowledging the quality of the inch perfect strike.

Rainworth were denied a late penalty when Modest was booked for what the referee deemed a dive, but clear contact was made by the Scholars defender, albeit slightly outside the penalty area.

It was all too little, too late for Chasetown though and Martin pulled off a tremendous late save to deny Andy Westwood, while Chasetown also had a late chance cleared off the line as the visitors piled on some late pressure.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Chris Slater, Louis Keenan (Jack Farmer, 69 mins), Grant Beckett, Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Danny Smith (Leigh Downing, 76 mins), Andy Westwood, Nick Wellecomme, Paul Sullivan (Gary Hay, 76 mins), Ramone Stephens

Subs: Alex Forde, Danny Watson (not used)