Tooley’s Take | Chesterfield FC (original) (raw)

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Chesterfield 3 Grimsby Town 2

Bristol Street Motors Trophy, Northern Group G

I enjoyed that! Entertaining match, no need for any panic, some fine goals, a couple of missed sitters, but objective achieved. Hopefully Fleck’s hamstring isn’t too bad, and with any luck, Grimes and Jones withdrawals were mainly precautionary.

The win guaranteed Town will be at home for the start of the knock-out phase, 32 teams left in it, and the draw will be regionalised into North and South. Just one academy team still standing (Villa) after 16 entered. Is that good or bad? Depends on how you look at the competition. Personally I’d prefer it if there were no academy sides in it at all. At any stage.

Aston Villa are one of the sides we could be drawn against. Winning the group means we are seeded and will play a team that were runners-up in a Northern group (except Lincoln City who were in our section), those teams being Tranmere Rovers, Port Vale, Wigan Athletic, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town plus either Rotherham United or Bradford City who are both already through but play next week to determine top spot.

Win four more games and on April 13 next year, Wembley would be on the agenda. Note that date, the anniversary of a certain match at Old Trafford against Middlesbrough in 1997.

The Spireites hierarchy considered registering a few academy prospects, but eventually went for a very experienced starting line-up, the only first time starter being John Fleck, a former Scottish International. The Mariners gave two academy players their first taste of starting for the first XI, another came off the bench and two more had only previously worn Grimsby colours in this competition, so on paper, before a ball had been kicked in anger, Chesterfield looked to have selected a stronger side.

James Berry ran and shot, very sweet, the ball nodded down to him by Branden Horton, who played out of his skin, doing everything he could to remind the management of his presence. He notched up assist #2 later in the first half, when Paddy Madden rounded the keeper to complete a super team goal.

Between those two Town efforts, The Mariners had levelled when right back Lewis Cass burst forwards in a counter-attack, delivered the ball into the danger area, Liam Mandeville sliding back hooked the ball away, but it fell back to Cass to convert. Liam was wearing gloves for the first time this season, it was chilly, and he told me afterwards that he’d had to borrow Paddy’s and he ‘broke them’ so he’s got to nip down to the glove shop to buy his generous colleague a new pair!

Half-time, 2-1, entertaining evening but with Lincoln City 2-0 up against Manchester City U21, Spireites needed, at the very least, a penalty bonus point to clinch the group. Grimsby equalised just 73 seconds from the restart to really tighten things up, 19-year-old Cameron Gardner, like Cass, a former Newcastle United player, scoring his first senior goal.

Berry’s second, a fine first time placed shot after a run by Michael Jacobs and a cross in from Madden, who a bit earlier had hit the bar from not very far out, restored the lead, and from then on, Chesterfield looked the most likely next scorers, but the game ended 3-2, a third home win of the season, two of them against The Mariners, all of them in different competitions.

All a bit pre-season feel, but nonetheless, a game that reminded us all that some of the guys we don’t see too often can play and will play their part at some stage this season. Grimsby, with a team that, pound for pound, was less experienced than Chesterfield’s, clearly have some decent youngsters. Right centre back Callum Storr, on his debut, looked extremely comfortable, I’ve made a note of his name.

Harrogate Town up next. Four previous meetings, no Spireites wins. Awkward striker Jack Muldoon still there. He scored their fourth goal, a last minute winner, in The Sulphurites 4-3 win on Whitt Moor in our last encounter and their third goal in a 3-1 defeat in our last visit to Wetherby Road. Harrogate sit in 20th place, Accrington Stanley occupied that spot before last Saturday’s fixtures. They lost on pens after a 2-2 home score with Blackpool in the BSM, and in their previous two home games, they beat Wrexham in the FA Cup, Muldoon with the only goal, but then lost to strugglers Morecambe, conceding a last minute goal to lose 2-1. Consistently inconsistent. All we know for sure is that the 900 visiting fans will be noisy!

Spireites last four aways? WWDW, goals scored in them, 3, 2, 3, 5. That Wilfreda Beehive coach certainly looks like a fortress!

Phil’s Positive: Branden Horton and Tyrone Williams were excellent, James Berry’s finishing was sublime, the game was a great watch.

Next Match: Harrogate Town (A), Saturday, November 16, EFL2, KO 3pm. Full Commentary for subscribers on the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 2pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Mandeville, Williams, Grimes (Naylor 53), Horton; Jones (Tanton 67), Fleck (Oldaker 21), Jacobs, Banks, Berry (Dobra 67); Madden (Grigg 67). Subs (not used): Rinaldo, Cook.

Goals: Berry 8, 58, Madden 38 (Chesterfield), Cass 18, Gardner 47 (Grimsby)

Referee: Michael Barlow

Bookings: Naylor (Chesterfield), Cribb (Grimsby)

Attendance: 1538 (49 from Grimsby)

Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Branden Horton (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)