Craig Harris’ men could not have wished for a worse start. With just 4 minutes on the clock, Ryan Price made a splendid save to deny Sam Youngs, but from the resultant corner, Rugby skipper Alex Gudger headed home unchallenged.

There was no question that the Valley were on top and Justin Marsden fired just over the bar from outside the area, before Marsden tested Price from range only to be kept out by another high quality save from the Chasetown number 1.

Chasetown were very much clinging on in the game and created only one chance of levelling the score. Paul Sullivan broke into the penalty area and flashed an effort across goal that Niall Cooper was equal to, flinging himself to his left to concede a corner.

A revitalised Chasetown came out in the second half, coinciding with the introduction of Lee Butler as a half-time substitute. It took the Scholars just eight minutes to get back on level terms. He may not have marked his first full appearance with a goal but loan striker Danny Griffiths certainly made an impact.

From the wide left hand side of the penalty area he cut in, battled his way past two Rugby defenders before sliding the ball into the path of Sullivan. Sullivan still had a lot to do but turned sharply and drilled the ball inside Cooper’s left hand post.

Chasetown were in the ascendancy and Rugby were more and more on the back foot. It was looking more likely that it would be Chasetown that could avoid the possibility of a Tuesday night replay.

There was a touch of good fortune about the start of the move for the Scholars winning goal. Danny Bragoli was looking to pick out a pass to the inside left channel but his firmly hit pass ricocheted off Town midfielder Richard Blythe into the path of Simon Brown inside the right hand touchline.

Brown, who had a relatively quiet game by his standards, made up for that with an inch perfect cross into the path of substitute Theo Robinson, who timed his run to perfection to head beyond Cooper.

Not surprisingly, the visitors were not going to take the score lying down and David Kolodynski forced Price into another impressive save to preserve the slender lead. Then, when a Chasetown move broke down in midfield, Rigby had men over as they attacked before Grant Beckett’s tackle to perfection inside the penalty box to clear the first danger and Jack Farmer blocked the follow up.

The Scholars - who have won at least one FA Trophy game in every year they have competed since they debuted in 2006 – had Price to thank for that record being preserved. It appeared that Kolodynski’s chip at goal had beaten price but he back-pedalled to fingertip over the striker’s attempt.

Harris’ men now meet Redditch United away on October 19th.

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Alex Forde, Grant Beckett, Jack Farmer, Tesfa Robinson, Avun Jephcott (Lee Butler, HT), Simon Brown, Danny Bragoli, Danny Griffiths (Nick Wellecomme, 78 mins), Paul Sullivan, Leigh Downing (Theo Robinson, 68 mins)

Other subs: Louis Keenan, Danny Watson (not used)

Rugby Town: Cooper, Myles, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger, Youngs, Spencer (Moses-Garvey, 7 2mins), Blythe, Kolodynski, Lake-Gaskin, Marsden

Other subs: Williams, Palmer, Bishop, Fabrice-Gnadja (not used)