Chasetown made a dream start with a goal after five minutes. Rhys Thompson was fouled just outside the area and Jack Langston curled a free kick beyond the grasp of Adam Whitehouse - his 25th goal of the season.

The Scholars were very much in the ascendency and James Dance tested Whitehouse who dived full stretch to palm aside for a corner.

The home side almost made it 2-0 in the 25th minute. Langston's free kick was parried by Whitehouse and the rebound fell straight to Mitch Piggon but the ball looped up off the striker agonisingly over the crossbar.

Just after the half hour Rangers equalised against the run of play with their first attempt as Kris Taylor shot from the angle of the box beyond the reach of Curtis Pond.

On the hour, Joe Thomas attacked the visitors with a powerful run only to be clipped 20 yards out. Langston's kick was drilled through the wall but Whitehouse was straight behind the ball.

Substitute Peter Till almost carved open the Rangers defence chipping up to the far post where Liam Holt’s far post header was straight at the keeper.

Stafford took the lead in the 70th minute catching the hosts on the break and former Chase striker Kyle Perry seized on a short pass to fire past Pond.