In a lacklustre first half, the hosts took the lead with a questionable penalty kick. While few would question that the ball struck Tesfa Robinson’s hands, the proximity to Simeon Oshoboke’s shot and the fact that Robinson’s hands were protecting his face at the point of impact would suggest that Chasetown were harshly done by.

If the decision was open to interpretation, there were no question marks over the execution of the spot kick with Zeph Thomas firing into the top right hand corner of Danny Watson’s net – well out of reach of just about any goalkeeper.

That aside, there was very little to report in the first half – with an atmosphere among the crowd that was definitely “end of season”.

Just three minutes into the second period, Chasetown were aggrieved not to have been awarded a spot kick themselves. Danny Smith got goal side of defender Kyle Bryant who got his arms round the Chase striker and pulled him to the floor as he was about to shoot.

Skipper for the day, Nick Wellecomme then was inches over the bar with Chris Martin well beaten with a thumping effort on the turn from outside the box.

Just after the hour though, Sports were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon after a foul and Thomas this time went low to the bottom corner to double the Derbyshire side’s lead. Incredibly, in six appearances for Chase keeper Danny Watson, he has only been conceded four times this season – all of them penalty kicks.

A heavy wintry shower produced a double rainbow and within seconds Chasetown had found their pot of gold at the end of it as they reduced the deficit as Simon Brown was put clear and fired beyond Martin from close range.

It was Brown who was involved in the game’s next talking point with ten minutes remaining. After skipping past one Mickleover defender who tried to bring him down but missed, full back Bryant lunged straight through Brown. Luckily for Brown, he was able to get straight back to his feet and Referee Mr Eagland produced only the yellow card for Bryant.

Eight minutes from time, Watson was at full stretch to deny Mickleover a third goal and to preserve his record of not being beaten in open play in a Scholars shirt.

But, despite a better second half, Chasetown were unable to create another good chance to force the equaliser.

Mickleover Sports: Martin, Bryant, Webster (Ball, 72 mins), Walshe, Wiley, Grocott, Sibenge (Palmer, 58 mins), Holmes, Thomas, Oshoboke (Demidh, 65 mins), Kinsella

Other sub: O’Brien (not used)

Chasetown: Danny Watson, Jack Farmer, Todd Evans (Jono Gould, 84 mins), Joe Halsall, Tesfa Robinson, Jermaine Johnson, Lee Butler, Dean Bennett (Ramone Stephens, 66 mins), Nick Wellecomme, Danny Smith (Jack Lees, 70 mins), Simon Brown

Other subs: Mitchell MacDonald, Jack Langston (not used)