Make no mistake about Bedworth’s lowly league position, this Greenbacks eleven under the new management of Nick Hawkins was a different proposition than Chasetown faced at the Oval earlier this season. The visitors started at a pace and brightly, with three ex-Scholars including Mark Branch and Ben Steane in their starting line-up.

It was one of those former Chasetown players, Gavin Hurren, who was the first noteworthy incident in the game. Conceding a free kick for a late challenge on Ramone Stephens, Hurren picked up both the first yellow card of the encounter and an injury which saw him sit it out on the substitute’s bench.

Bedworth took the lead in the 23rd minute with their first serious attempt at goal when Reuben Wiggins-Thomas netted beneath the crossbar with the home side appealing for a foul on goalkeeper Ryan Price.

Craig Harris’ men were quickly on level terms. Just after the half hour, a corner from debutant Dean Bennett was guided beyond Sheridan Martinez by the head of Nick Wellecomme at the near post.

The Scholars were boosted by the goal and knew that Bedworth were there for the taking. Four minutes after the goal, Paul Sullivan nipped beyond two defenders and as Martinez came out his goal, the Chase number 10 guided the ball beyond the keeper only to see substitute Greg Webb clear off the line.

Martinez was already putting in a performance to earn himself the Man of the Match award and he made three saves to deny the Chasetown front two. First, he clawed away a Sullivan near post effort which may also have struck the outside of the post after the keeper’s touch and then he dived full strength to push a Wellecomme shot out of the path of Sullivan who would otherwise have had an open goal to side foot into.

As Chasetown dominated, the big custodian denied Wellecomme with a strong hand after Sullivan had again teed up his striker partner.

It came as no surprise when Chasetown took the lead. Sullivan, who had come into this game joint leading scorer with Wellecomme, levelled their individual goal scoring battle by thumping an unstoppable right-footer from outside the area after taking two defenders out of the game with a brilliant run with the ball tied to his feet.

Backed up by good midfield play, Sullivan and Wellecomme combined again at the start of the second period as Wellecomme was one-on-one with just Martinez to beat. An over-hit first touch gave the visiting keeper just enough chance to smother the ball as Wellecomme was ready to pull the trigger.

Wellecomme was a yard wide with a shot before Bennett forced Martinez into another fine stop, adjusting quickly to the effort which had taken a slight deflection.

At risk of repeating myself, Wellecomme went even closer with a right foot drive which was millimetres wide of the upright with Martinez, for once, stranded before, once again, Martinez proved Wellecomme’s nemesis with another top save after Lee Butler and Sullivan, again, had been involved in the build-up play.

Martinez had probably deserved his luck when he spilled a Bennett corner which was heading into his own goal until Anthony Newton cleared off the line.

But there was still time for Bedworth to produce what would have been an undeserved equaliser. Tristram Whitman’s effort seemed destined to hit the back of the net until Price pulled off a save to grace any occasion with skipper Chris Slater throwing his body in front of the rebound.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Jack Farmer, Louis Keenan, Chris Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Joe Halsall, Ramone Stephens, Dean Bennett, Nick Wellecomme (Craig Bannister, 83 mins), Paul Sullivan (Theo Robinson, 89 mins), Grant Beckett (Lee Butler, 69 mins)

Other subs: Tyrone Williams, Danny Watson (not used)

Bedworth United: Martinez, Newton, Branch, Hurren (Webb, 15 mins), Craven, Whyman (Edmonds, 73 mins), Steane, Forde, Grandison, Wiggins-Thomas, Munn (Whitman, 61 mins)

Other subs: Hutchcox, Peel (not used)