Chasetown still up for the cup in replay
Chasetown love an FA Cup run more than deserved a second chance after a 1-1 draw with at home to higher-ranking opponents Stalybridge Celtic.
The hosts made a dream start with a goal inside eight minutes but, four minutes later, the visitors were back on level terms.
Garfield Robinson's free-kick deflected through the defensive wall into the path of James Dance who took a touch and picked his spot unerringly past goalkeeper Tony McMillan.
Then Francino Francis badly under-hit a back-pass, leaving goalkeeper John Bateman stranded as Stalybridge Celtic's Steve Tames had the easiest of finishes.
The visitors now upped the pressure, Bo Dixon curling a free-kick low past the wall which Bateman pushed wide for a corner.
From the flag-kick, Jack Higgins got in a header which flew just a whisker over the crossbar.
Stalybridge continued to press and had the ball in the net only to see the strike disallowed. Bateman had saved a free-kick but the rebound fell to an offside player.
Three minutes after the interval, McMillan denied the Scholars. He dashed out from his goal and then had to mount a swift retreat and push aside a fierce drive from Simon Brown.
Francis then went close to atoning for his earlier error. After a period of stalemate, Dance helped the ball into the path of the Chasetown man, but his acrobatic overhead kick was easily held by McMillan.
With 15 minutes remaining, it was the turn of Bateman to excel as he produced a superb save to palm Celtic skipper Matt Hughes' header over the crossbar.
In the dying seconds of the game, Stan Mugisha broke clear only to skew a shot wide with substitute Nathan Waite screaming for a pass. But a draw was the upshot and a replay tomorrow.
