In a tight opening ten minutes or so, it was the Scholars Number 9 Nick Wellecomme who went closest to opening the scoring, with a low shot which zipped off the surface and only inches wide of Lewis Gwilliams’ left hand post with the home keeper stranded.

That said it was the home side that understandably adapted to their own pitch better than Chasetown and had the visitors under the cosh for some considerable periods in a first half where neat passing football was missing from the menu as both sides seemed to prefer the aerial approach.

Just after the midway point of the first half, Chase keeper Ryan Price was called into action for the first time, clutching a free header from Luke Chapman which was thankfully straight at him.

Then, Sutton winger Reece Leek opened up the visiting defence with a powerful run from the right and when he let fly, Price was equal to the effort, holding on to a low shot.

With three former Scholars in the Royals starting line-up, it was perhaps no surprise when one of them popped up with the opening goal. After a sustained period of pressure, Sutton forced a corner from which Gary Hay netted against his former club with a well-placed header.

At the start of the second half, Wellecomme had a glorious chance to draw the scores level. The pass came into him on his right foot but, whether he anticipated a higher bounce on the 3G surface, he scuffed his connection with the ball which spun harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

If the first half had been very aerial, Chasetown were certainly playing the ball along the ground in the second, with quick, incisive passing which put their hosts on the back foot.

Eventually, this paid off as Ramone Stephens burst inside the Sutton area and Joe Lyng was left little option but to bundle over the tricky winger. Back in October, it was again Stephens who was fouled for the Chasetown penalty in that 1-1 draw, but Wellecomme saw his penalty saved back then. This time, leading scorer Paul Sullivan took responsibility for the spot-kick in Simon Brown’s absence and comprehensively netted his 16th goal of the season from twelve yards.

Chasetown ended the game strongly and impressive debutant midfielder Luke Bottomer stung the gloves of Gwilliams with a drive from the edge of the box as the Scholars looked to capitalise on their time in the ascendancy.

Another former Scholar entered the fray in the shape of Dean Perrow but neither side could fashion out a winning goal – the fourth consecutive league draw between these two sides in the two last seasons.

Sutton Coldfield Town: Gwilliams, Kettle, Jackson, McNaught, Lyng, Male, Leek (Perrow, 63 mins), Taylor, Hay (Thompson, 87 mins), Chapman, Milligan

Other subs: Anahgo-Ntamark, Murrell, Coton (not used)

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Jack Farmer, Grant Beckett, Chris Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Joe Halsall, Luke Bottomer, Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme, Paul Sullivan, Ramone Stephens (Jono Gould, 69 mins)

Other subs: Danny Smith, Richard Teesdale, Dean Bennett, Danny Watson (not used)