An end-to-end first half saw Halesowen’s leading marksman Ben Haseley twice go close with shots into either side-netting while Jazz Luckie, who scored his first Scholars goal in midweek, was handed a first start for Chasetown and caused all sorts of mayhem and confusion in the Yeltz back line.

But, despite the good approach work from both sides at times, neither Ryan Price or former Scholars keeper Matt Sargeant were unduly troubled in either goal.

On a pitch that had looked well weathered with a terrible winter of rain, particularly in very sandy 6 yard boxes both sides carried on where they left off in the first half creating plenty of good goal scoring opportunities.

The hosts, who are second in the league table, would perhaps be more disappointed that they did not get the all-important winning goal to boost their challenge for the title, yet it was the visitors who went the closest to the winning goal.

Iyseden Christie drove an effort just wide of the upright and headed straight at Price from close range, while the normally reliable Haseley miskicked from less than 6 yards with just the keeper to beat.

But, although the Yeltz had created some superb chances to win the game it was at the other end that the eagle-eyes of the officials came into play to deny a very near miss for Chasetown. Luckie’s first shot was blocked by Sargeant but when the rebound came back to him it looked certain that the full debutant would drive into the net. If this game had been televised, then the Goal Decision System would have been called into play as Kristian Green acrobatically, dramatically and incredibly hooked the ball off the line as every Scholars supporter and player turned immediately to the Assistant Referee to see whether he would award the goal.

Harris almost celebrated a win to mark his century when skipper Richard Teesdale was close to netting from close range when Sargeant kept out his volley on the turn, with the rebound fired over the bar by Tesfa Robinson having been adjudged to have handled the ball in the process.

The final action saw Sargeant in full flight as Simon Brown’s free kick was a whisker wide of the angle of post and crossbar from 25 yards.

Halesowen Town: Sargeant, Green, Charlton, Forde, Hull, Tilt, Griffiths (Mackenzie, 82 mins) Tonks (Lait, 78 mins), Christie, Haseley (Penney, 85 mins), Turner.
Other subs: Kelly, Pearson (not used)

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Todd Evans, Grant Beckett, Joe Halsall, Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Lee Butler (Jono Gould, 60 mins), Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme, Jazz Luckie (Richard Anslow, 78 mins), Simon Brown

Other subs: Chris Smith, Luke Bottomer, John Birt (not used)