Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Colchester United 1 Chesterfield 0

League Two Game #33

Regular readers will know I normally write this piece on the morning of the day after the match, sitting in bed with a cup of Twinings (other teas are available, but they never make it into our house). Well, I’m sitting in bed as I type this, but on Wednesday night after a somewhat surreal day, travelling back from Colchester in the morning, before a meeting with ex-Spireite Chris Marples about something we’re working on. No tea.

As I was waiting in Costa for Chris (I drink coffee out, nowhere near as fussy with that beverage), I took my first look at the news of the day, only to see the bombshell about Mr Kirk. Talk about shocked. I know how upset I felt, so I can’t even begin to feel how his family and friends feel. So soon after Tyrone’s injury, it just shows the fragility of life and puts football into some sort of perspective.

But Phil would be the first to say that the team’s performance in Essex was far from the standard we want and expect to see. I’m assured the team was unaware of the news that broke the next day. Narrow pitch, poor pitch, occasional whistle based raised eyebrows, lots of elements that were far from ideal, but none of them as influential to the outcome as the turgidity of Town.

Bit of solidity in the first half, but at the expense of nothing of note created. Bit more creation at the start of the second half, but no need for the 6’7” home keeper Macey to show anything other than a bit of basic handling. Then our most recent Achilles heel, conceding from a corner. United’s previous corners had all been overhit by Jack Payne, but this time, it went short, cross to the far stick, John-Kymani Linton Michael Gordon, aka JK, escaped his man to head home.

A few attacks after that by Spireites, some half decent until the vital moment, but the combo of a lack of rearguard resistance and ineffective incursions into the home box made Paul Cook’s side’s current form, LLLL, look like a row of Nissan Micra’s in the BSM (British School of Motoring for the uninitiated) car park. Our last four timer? Come on, think about it, Boreham Wood, joyous, silverware, job done, BSM car park then Maidenhead United beaten!

Sadly, no job done this season, we’ve just petered out. Indeed, statistically, we’ve been out of Peters for some time, none since Mr Till came on loan from Grimsby Town in 2009. Peter Leven was our last permanent Pete, he played in 2007/08.

On his birthday, 35-year-old Paddy Madden got a card. No stamp, but must have had the wrong postcode on it as referee James Durkin, son of Paul, told him to relocate with immediate effect to a different zone with just a minute of normal time remaining. Only his second ever straight red, just one dismissal for two yellows, not bad for a man with over 600 games to his name, clearly shows he’s not one to dive in recklessly. Looked harsh on the replay. Durkin has shown five reds in his last 16 games and 42 in his 177 professional games in charge. Translate that rate per match to Paddy, and he’d have picked up 144 reds in his career!

Saturday’s visitors Newport County snuck just above Chesterfield in midweek with a 3-1 win at home to Gillingham, with Bobby Kamwa grabbing a hat-trick, the first of his pro-career. After Christmas, the Welsh side had a LLLLL run and at the start of February a WWWW sequence, so some typical L2 inconsistency and supporters not sure which Newport may turn up.

With oodles of contracts up in the summer, there are a few Town players, with 13 to go, that need to ram home their credentials ahead of the end of the season. That ought to make for a positive finish, but after seeing off a decent Donny side 5-2 just four short weeks ago, we all expected lift-off to the play-off zone.

There’s been a metaphorical wheel short on the bus, at no stage since have all of the remaining wheels on said bus been going round and round in harmony and the doors on the bus have opened far too often, especially at corners. Very, very frustrating. Get that motor going vroom-vroom-vroom and we’ll all be happy.

But it’s only football.

Phil’s Positive: I’ve had even longer than normal to consider this, and I’m still struggling to find anything that doesn’t involve the 266 heroes on the away end. Fitting that Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ was on the pre-match play-list.

Next Match: Saturday, March 8 at home to Newport County, the match kicks-off at 3pm. All of the build-up on 1866 Sport from 2pm, then onto the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website), with half-time and After the Whistle remaining on the 1866 Sport App, online and on smart speaker.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Sheckleford, Palmer, Grimes,Sparkes; Naylor (Fleck 77), Banks (Olakigbe 77); Duffy (Pepple 77), Hobson (Colclough 63), Mandeville (Dobra 63); Madden. Unused Subs: Thompson, Metcalfe.