The Scholars made a bright start and Ramone Stephens was the closest to breaking the deadlock with a right footer that flashed beyond Ben Chapman and wide of his left hand post.

Leek, who beat Chasetown 3-0 in the return match in December, showed why they are still very much in the title race with a disciplined defensive performance which eventually led to them taking control of the first half and edging ahead when Tim Grice netted at the near post after build up from John Johnston and Anthony Danylyk.

Chasetown deservedly equalised though when Simon Brown drove a low shot between the legs of Leek full back Dan Smith and beyond the left hand of Chapman.

Former Scholars Jordan Johnson saw his free kick deflect onto the crossbar, but then Chasetown’s hopes were dealt a blow when Brown was adjudged of committing a second yellow card offence and Mr Gudger produced the red card for the winger.

With the man advantage, Leek took a stranglehold on the game and looked likely to regain the lead with Ryan Price producing a low save to deny scorer Grice.

The pressure told and it was Jordan Johnson who swept the ball beyond Price to restore Leek’s lead.

The ten men were defending for large periods and trying to play on the counter attack whenever they could, but it was Johnson who sealed the three points, lifting the visitors into second place in the league table with games in hand, with a sumptuous free kick from thirty yards which curled beyond the grasp of Price.

Chasetown’s Nick Wellecomme had a late chance to reduce the deficit but his shot was deflected wide for a corner as he bore down on Chapman.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Jack Farmer, Grant Beckett, Chris Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Jermaine Johnson (Dean Bennett, 80 mins), Lee Butler (Danny Smith, 85 mins), Danny Bragoli, Nick Wellecomme, Simon Brown, Ramone Stephens (Jono Gould, 70 mins)

Other subs: Todd Evans, Nicky Campbell (not used)

Leek Town: Chapman, Dan Smith, Bell, Dicker, Epsley, Maguire, Danylyk (Hall, 75 mins), Shelley (Mills, 63 mins), Grice (Kinsey, 82 mins), Jordan Johnson, John Johnston

Other subs: Donnelly, Bratt (not used)