They could not have wished for a worse start with James Reid netting inside the first two minutes to give the Romans a 1-0 lead.

The Scholars responded brightly though and a Jack Lees effort over the crossbar and a drive from Jono Gould which was pushed wide for a corner gave the visitors plenty of encouragement.

Joe Halsall also went close before Chasetown deservedly drew level ion the 26th minute. Full back Todd Evans threw long to the near post where Richard Teesdale put pressure on former Scholar Lee Smith who could only head towards his own goal with Paul Evans diving to his right unable to keep the ball out.

In a marked improvement from Saturday’s action, Reid was wayward from long range before Danny Smith saw his shot blocked after creating the chance himself when he robbed the Roms’ defender.

Reid was a constant threat for the home side and, against the run of play, gave his side the advantage a minute before the break. He created space for the shot and drove a low shot goalwards which deflected off Tesfa Robinson, wrong-footing Watson and trickling into the opposite corner.

Reid forced Watson into two early second half saves which could’ve put the hosts out of sight before Chasetown picked themselves up and drew level for the second time. Just five minutes into the second period, Jono Gould took a quick corner short to Lee Butler who whipped the ball towards the far post towards Jack Lees. Lees left the ball for Joe Halsall who was in a better position to attack the ball and he chipped it back into the box where Todd Evans bulleted a header beyond his namesake for his first goal for the club.

Evans was having a great game at right back and it was another long throw which almost led to his second assist of the afternoon when Jack Lees headed against the crossbar, seemingly thanks to the faintest touches from Paul Evans onto the bar and over.

The Scholars ended with Jermaine Johnson and Jono Gould as their forward line as both Lees and Smith got withdrawn in the last ten minutes and it was Gould with the last kick of the game who volleyed goalwards looking for the winner, only to be blocked by Roms defender Liam Francis.

Romulus: P Evans, Downes, Caines, Lee, Francis, L Smith, Maguire, O’Callaghan, Reid, Turton, Meer (Shearer, 72 mins)

Other subs: D Johnson, Chohan (not used)

Chasetown: Danny Watson, Todd Evans, Grant Beckett, Chris Slater (Danny Bragoli, 69 mins), Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Lee Butler, Joe Halsall, Jack Lees (Ramone Stephens, 82 mins), Danny Smith (Jermaine Johnson, 85 mins), Jono Gould

Other subs: Mitchell MacDonald, John Birt (not used)