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| Armando Dobra had a night to Remember! |
around the Spireites fanbase just had sunk to a new low.
But for me, that’s just not the case; I now feel even more confident
of Chesterfield’s promotion chances this season than I did
going into the clash against the league leaders.
Supporters of other sides might laugh at this point of view on the back of a defeat. They may call me arrogant, or deluded, or accuse me of donning my blue tinted specs (which I’ll admit I’m prone to on occasion).
But we’ve just witnessed our side go toe to toe with one of the two forces of nature that look set to re write the record books in the fifth tier this season.
For large parts of the game, the Spireites more than gave as good as they got, pressing high up the pitch, moving the ball into dangerous positions and fashioning multiple chances which the visitors’ opposite number, Macauley Langstaff would have finished with aplomb.
Did I mention that much of the domination came in the 34 minutes when the Spireites had 10 men?
An enthralling first half saw the home side fashion several dangerous chances - Tim Akinola (my man of the match) smashing over after a scramble from a corner, Joe Quigley skewing a low cross wide of Sam Slocombe’s post.
But Notts County have Macauley Langstaff.
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| Langstaff in the Goals. 25 for the Season! |
A long ball from Slocombe was misjudged by Jamie Grimes, and Langstaff expertly controlled the ball before finishing low past the excellent Ross Fitzsimons - showing why he’s the best forward in the league, and why County look set to push Wrexham all of the way in the fight for automatic promotion.
The visitors carried their own threats throughout the half, particularly down the channels - Aaron Nemane in particular gave Brandon Horton a torrid time. Watch this space…
Just as it seemed the league leaders would lead at the break, another dangerous corner resulted in chaos inside the box before Armando Dobra stabbed home. A deserved equaliser in front of the travelling supporters was celebrated in the maverick style we’ve all come to expect from the Albanian magician.
Jeff King, the man whose corner had created the goal, was perplexingly booked in the midst of the celebrations - allegedly for ‘celebrating too enthusiastically’. Again, watch this space…
No one watching the game would argue that Chesterfield were not good value for the 1-1 scoreline at half time. An enthralling, close matched encounter was put on pause for 15 minutes, allowing everyone the chance to calm down a little.
The visitors flew out of the blocks in the second half, with a penalty shout denied by the referee before Fitzsimons brilliantly saved when 1 on 1 against Langstaff - surely cementing his place as the Spireites’ number 1 at least for the time being.
Chesterfield continued to give as good as they got, with a Dobra low cross somehow evading a mass of bodies inside the six yard box. Fine margins.
Then came the defining moment in the game. Jeff King flew into a challenge on halfway - did he get the ball? Didn’t he? What he did do was give the referee a decision to make, and out came the second yellow card to send the right back for an early bath.
The sending off galvanised Notts County, who began to exploit the space vacated by Mike Jones for the introduction of Ryheem Sheckleford.
The previously namechecked Nemane went on a brilliant run down the right, gliding past Horton before drilling a cross to his opposite number Adam Chicksen. Absolute scenes in the away end, sheer desolation among the Spireites faithful.
But then came a period of domination that I personally didn’t think was possible with 10 men, one which opposition manager Luke Williams has dubbed ‘incredible’.
The Spireites rallied and pinned County in their own half for practically the rest of the game. Dobra and Mandeville pressed relentlessly to keep County in their own half. Tim Akinola created sheer panic with his dribbling and showed the attributes that have earned him a place on Arsenal’s books - pace, power and trickery in abundance.
Paul McCallum offered a different threat when brought on and acquitted himself well for his first minutes in a Spireites shirt in my opinion - lots more to come from him.
One image that sticks with me is of Jamie Grimes overlapping beyond the wingers before whipping a dangerous cross into the area. Sheer madness.
Ryan Colclough saw the Blues’ best chances, shooting narrowly wide before right at the death, a low cross from Dobra missed his boot by inches for what would have been a certain equaliser.
When the referee’s whistle finally blew, the Notts County cheers were as much cries of relief as of jubilation. They will have headed back down the M1 knowing they were in a game, and that they narrowly scraped though.
Chesterfield may have lost this battle, but the overall fight for promotion is far from over. One of Wrexham and Notts County will not go up automatically, and in my eyes, the Spireites have proven themselves to be a match for both teams in a one off game in our performances against them this season.
That is why for Paul Cook’s side, securing third place in the National League has to be the aim. It gives us the best chance of reaching the playoff final at Wembley - and on our day, I fancy the Spireites to beat any side in the top 7.
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