The Scholars were architects of their own downfall trailing in the 14th minute. Following a Chasetown corner which was cleared, Rushall broke quickly with Hakeem Islam who outpaced full back Greg Downes. Dave Walker was left unmarked and calmly slotted past Ryan Price.

Four minutes later, more lapse defending gifted Rushall a second. Jack Farmer blocked Rushall’s initial attack out for a corner, but following a goalmouth scramble after Grant Beckett’s corner that the home side failed to deal with, Walker added his second from inside the 6 yard box.
Chasetown struggled to get any joy from a well organised Rushall defence and their best chance came five minutes before half-time. Nick Wellecomme, on his return from injury, nipped in amongst two Rushall defenders and set up Richard Teesdale who was quickly charged down by Mitchell Tolley and he could only scoop an effort wide of the post.

There was an element of good fortune about the Pics’ third goal, ten minutes into the second half. Josh Craddock flicked the ball into former Scholar Danny Bragoli who was left one-one-one with Price and netted coolly, but there were justified claims from The Scholars defence that there was both an offside and a handball in the build-up.

Chasetown had failed to score in each of the last 6 games against Rushall but at least they were able to end that record. Twelve minutes from the end, substitute Danny Ashton delivered a right-footed corner and Gavin Saunders at full stretch somehow diverted his header beyond the despairing dive of Chris Gemmell.

Four minutes later, any chance of Chasetown making a comeback was probably extinguished. A Nick Wellecomme volley was deflected goalwards by Danny Smith and was blocked in front of the keeper by a despairing defender’s challenge. If that gone in, Chasetown may have created some panic amongst the visitors back line.

Instead, the final ten minutes was devoid of any clear scoring opportunities for Chasetown and the visitors deservedly progressed into Monday’s draw and Chasetown need to turn their attention back to league football starting this midweek at Carlton Town.

Chasetown: Price, Downes, Jackson, Farmer, Maguire (Ashton, 70 mins), Teesdale, Westwood (Sullivan 87 mins), Saunders, Wellecomme, Smith, Robinson (Gould, 76 mins)

Other subs: Branch, Kisiel (not used)