It took The Scholars just three minutes to take the lead as Jazz Luckie marked his home debut with a cool run and shot which left Adam Alcock no chance in the Newcastle goal.

Luckie almost made it 2-0 with a mishit shot which bobbled awkwardly for Alcock who stuck out a right hand and just about managed to flick it wide of the post.

The visitors were far from out of the game though and twice struck the frame of the Chasetown goal, once off the bar from a cross and the other a low shot from Joshua Gordon which came back off the post.

Despite conceding those chances, Chasetown were looking likely to score every time they went forward and Nick Wellecomme and Jazz Luckie both went close to doubling the lead – with perhaps both making the wrong choices to shoot when, on each occasion, squaring it to their strike partner in arguably a better position.

Newcastle were incensed by the Scholars second goal as it appeared Simon Brown may have controlled the ball with an arm as the attack gained momentum. Brown was allowed to continue though and his cross to the far post was, at first, mis-controlled by Lee Butler, though if his first touch let him down a bit, his second didn’t as he thrashed a shot with severe venom off the inside of the bar and post and over the line with Alcock flat-footed.

A Brown free kick and a drive from Danny Bragoli saw Chasetown end the half on top, though with the chances Newcastle had created, the 2-0 half time score could have been anything from 4-0 to 2-2.

It was therefore no surprise when Newcastle pulled a goal back nine minutes into the second half as Thomas Urwin let fly from range and no goalkeeper in the world would have got close to keeping the ball out.

In a classic end-to-end game, chances were coming thick and fast to both sides and Ryan Price had to be at his best to keep out a close range header from Matthew Lowe.

Chasetown were dangerous on the counter attack though and Alcock made a great save to deny Wellecomme as the striker broke through the visitors back line.

Both Wellecomme and Luckie had impressed for Chasetown but it was Price who made the strongest claim for man of the match with a double save at the death. It looked certain that Tim Sanders would level the scores but Price got down well to save and it seemed inevitable that Urwin would poke home the rebound but somehow Price managed to keep that out too, literally the last touch of the game as Scholars fans were relieved to hear Mr Fox’s final whistle.

It certainly makes for an entertaining return fixture on Saturday 8th as Chasetown travel up to Newcastle-under-Lyme.

• This was Chasetown’s first home game since late January due to the postponement of the Leek game on February 11th. It gave the Scholars fans the opportunity to pay their final respects to Reverend Roy Bagley who passed away on January 29th. The game was marked with an impeccable minute’s silence and many members of Rev Bagley’s family were amongst the crowd on Saturday.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Todd Evans, Grant Beckett, Chris Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Joe Halsall, Simon Brown, Danny Bragoli (Dean Bennett, 67 mins), Nick Wellecomme, Jazz Luckie (Jono Gould, 73 mins), Lee Butler (Chris Smith, 83 mins)

Other subs: Richard Anslow, Danny Watson (not used)

Newcastle Town: Alcock, J Askey, Sheldon, Ashman, Woolliscroft, Lowe, France, Skelton (Cole, 75 mins), Gordon Sanders, Urwin

Other subs: L Askey, Lovatt (not used)