Chesterfield U18s defeated Walsall U18s 1-0 in the FA Youth Cup at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena on Tuesday evening.
The only goal of the game came deep into extra-time through Will Pucci, who scored after coming off the bench.
There was concern over Tom Everest Wilcock within the opening 15 minutes as the Spireites’ shot stopper required some treatment before he was able to continue.
The first real chance came for Walsall in the 16th minute as Charlie Wragg’s low-driven cross to the front post found Jaiy Leydon who could not find his footing and the effort went just wide.
In the latter stages of the first half, Thomas Owen’s cross was collected by Everest Wilcock off the toe off an oncoming Walsall attacker.
In the 39th minute, Walsall had another chance to go ahead as Everest Wilcock punched clear a looping, deflected cross amidst a challenge from Leydon.
Wragg had the last chance of the half for Walsall, cutting in from the right-hand side on his left foot and his low effort was watched wide of the far post by Everest Wilcock.
The referee’s whistle brought an end to a first half of no goals and few chances for the Spireites with the score line level at 0-0.
The first chance of the second half was for the visitors in the 56th minute as substitute Cailen Beckford’s driving run down the right flank was cut back to Wragg on the edge of the box who took a touch before shooting wide of the near post.
The Spireites’ first big chance of the game came in the 65th minute as Jack Brassey’s cross was pushed away by Jenson Kilroy in the Walsall goal straight to Lewis Reah who volleyed wide of the mark.
It was only three minutes later that there was another chance for Haydn Hollis’ side as substitute Pucci fired a shot from distance that did not quite dip quick enough to go under the crossbar despite beating an outstretched Kilroy.
Tom Pawson had an opportunity to give the Spireites the lead after the Walsall defence gave possession away cheaply to Brassey, but the shot was directly at Kilroy late in the game.
In the last minute of added time, a long-range strike was saved by Kilroy and fell to Pawson whose follow-up was blocked brilliantly by the Walsall shot stopper.
The referee blew the full-time whistle to send the game into extra time with no goals after 90 minutes.
A weaving run from Wragg for the visitors was the first chance of the second half of extra-time but after cutting in on his left foot his shot was saved comfortably by Everest Wilcock.
In the 109th minute, substitute Pucci broke the deadlock for the Spireites after a cross from the right was thumped into the back of the net first time at the near post.
With around five minutes left of extra-time, Ashton Stringer drove the length of the pitch to counter from a Walsall corner but was halted by a last-ditch challenge.
Chesterfield progress in the FA Youth Cup and will now turn their attention to their next game, away at Bradford City on Friday, November 8.
Spireites: Everest Wilcock, Smith, Wainman, McKernan, Bointon, Whitney, Brassey (Stringer 105’), Ward (White 76’), Pawson (Weaver 112’), Reah, Gill (Pucci 62’).
Unused subs: Buxton, Hardy, Jon Hague.
Attendance: 160
