Chasetown made to pay the penalties

In a lacklustre first half, the hosts took the lead with a questionable penalty. While the ball struck Tesfa Robinson's hands, the proximity to Simeon Oshoboke's shot and the fact that Robinson's hands were protecting his face suggest a harsh decision.

If the decision was open to interpretation, there were no question marks over the execution of the spot-kick with Zeph Thomas firing into the top right-hand corner of Danny Watson's net.

Just three minutes into the second period, Chasetown were aggrieved not to win a spot-kick themselves. Danny Smith got goal-side of defender Kyle Bryant who got his arms round the Scholars striker and pulled him to the ground.

Skipper for the day Nick Wellecomme then was inches over the bar with Chris Martin well beaten with a thumping effort on the turn.

Just after the hour, though, Sports were awarded their second penalty after a foul and Thomas this time went low to the bottom corner to double the Derbyshire side's lead.

Incredibly, in six appearances this season for Chase keeper Watson, he has conceded only four times – all of them penalty-kicks. A heavy wintry shower produced a double rainbow and within seconds Chasetown had found their pot of gold at the end of it as Simon Brown was put clear and fired beyond Martin from close range.

It was Brown who was involved in the game's next talking point with 10 minutes remaining.

After skipping past one Mickleover defender who tried to bring him down but missed, Brown was felled by full-back Bryant who lunged straight through him for only a yellow card.

Eight minutes from time, Watson was at full stretch to deny Mickleover a third goal and to preserve his record of not being beaten in open play in a Scholars shirt. But, despite a better second half, Chasetown were unable to fashion an equaliser.