Maresca was looking to avoid another lethargic display from Chelsea, who had suffered a 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last month despite winning the first leg convincingly.
Djurgarden, meanwhile, had overturned a first-leg deficit to pull off an extra-time victory at Rapid Vienna to reach their first European semi-finals.
But the Swedish club’s hopes of producing any such drama this time were dashed after 38 minutes when Dewsbury-Hall put Maresca’s side ahead with his fourth goal of the European campaign.
The former Leicester City midfielder ran onto a pass from George and saw his low drive go in after hitting the inside of the post for the only goal of the night.
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was called into action a couple of times in the second half – first to keep out a Miro Tenho header that was later flagged offside and then a fierce shot by Daniel Stensson from distance.
While Walsh, the youngest player to appear for Chelsea since 1967, impressed in the midfield on his full debut, 19-year-old George could have put the game to bed late on but strayed offside before heading Jadon Sancho’s cross wide from point-blank range.
It mattered little, however, as Maresca’s side, many people’s favourites to win this competition even before a ball was kicked, moved another step closer to the title.
But before the Conference League final, the Blues, who have been barely tested in the competition so far, will hope to have secured a place in next season’s Champions League.
They will face Newcastle United on Sunday and the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who were rested against Djurgarden, will hope to play a big part at St James’ Park in a ‘six-pointer’ in the race for Europe.
