Arseley 0 Chasetown 0

Chasetown battled to a goalless draw on a freezing evening at Arlesey Town in the British Gas Division One Midlands.

Dean Perrow returned to the starting eleven to partner Gary Birch up front, with Danny Smith moving to wing back and Joe Williams replacing the unwell Chris Slater.

Perrow, on his first league start since injury, had the Scholars' first chance after four minutes after a mistake by the home defence, but his low shot went straight at keeper James Russell.

Chasetown keeper Ryan Price palmed away a Lee Allen corner and Perrow's next chance was stopped by Shane Brown.

Richard Teesdale departed with an ankle injury on 20 minutes and was replaced by Ross Miller.

Arlesey's Cameron Facey brought down Mark Branch on 25 minutes but Harry Harris's free kick was headed clear, before a fine through ball from Harris found Gary Birch but Russell beat him to it.

Branch then sent a cross into the keeper's arms after a mazy run down the left, before the winger aimed a free kick at the top corner but Russell was able to palm it over the bar.

Perrow cut back to Birch on 37 minutes but the latter fired against the post.

In stoppage time Russell gathered a Branch cross and Harris sent a right-footed shot across goal but it was pushed round the post by Russell, with Birch's shot from the resulting corner cleared off the line.

Chasetown were quick into their stride in the second half. Birch playing through Harris whose left-footed shot was blocked by Russell, before Miller conceded a needless free kick on the Arlesey right, which was headed away by Craig Holland.

A set-to between Ryan Francis and Vaughan Thomas on 55 minutes saw both booked, before Price plucked a Town corner out of the air.

Scholars substitute Ben Steane later hit the post, following a Smith throw-in.