Chesterfield lost 6-2 Iin Essex to a rampant Colchester United side who notched their first home win of the season with a very impressive performance that belied their position in the table.
Liam Mandeviile pulled a goal back after 20 minutes but the one goal margin was short lived; by the interval the Us led by 4-1 and, despite substitute James Berry scoring a quality late goal, Colchester added an injury time sixth to seal a great afternoon for the home side.
The Spireites arrived at the JobServe Community Stadium with last weekend’s resounding win over Newport County behind them whereas Colchester had not won since they clinched three points away at Shrewsbury in mid-August and had yet to taste a league victory on home soil this season; at kick-off they sat,14 places behind the Spireites, in 20th position.
Storm Amy had almost drifted away by the morning of the game but had left gale force winds to contend with that inevitably would impact both teams as they chose how to combat the unpredictable effect.
Paul Cook chose to make no changes from the side that defeated the Exiles the previous Saturday, and just one change on the bench as Kyle McFadzean took over from Adam Lewis.
It’s a long journey but a large following had travelled to support the Spireites and were in good voice as the game began.
The first move of note came from the home side; a dangerous ball into the box from the right from Kyreece Lisbie earned a corner kick but Arthur Reed’s dead ball effort was cleared easily.
Two minutes later Lisbie hit another great ball into the area, this time deeper and Harry Anderson ran well to touch home after four minutes.
Colchester continued to press and brought a frustrated foul from Devan Tanton. Within a minute the Us had doubled their lead. Again the threat came down the right flank. Jack Payne played a one-two with Anderson and hit home from close range.
Chesterfield were soon back in the game after a great strike Mandeville in the 17th minute. A super ball from Lewis Gordon found Tanton on the right, he fed Mandeviile who hit a great angled shot into the top right to gibe Colchester keeper Matt Macey no chance.
A minute later Armando Dobra went close as he hit well from the edge of the area, his effort was deflected for a corner that was quickly cleared.
It was real to-and-fro action and next Colchester threatened. Micah Mbick picked up well in the area and hit for goal. Zach Hemming produced an impressive save as he palmed away the danger.
The home side were awarded a free-kick in a central position 25 yards out; to the frustration of the home supporters Jack Payne hit wildly over the bar.
Captain Chey Dunkley picked up a knock that required lengthy treatment; he resumed with a bandaged head. In the next move Will Grigg picked up a knock and was replaced by Lee Bonis.
Straight from the re-start United extended their lead. Again the danger came down the right and Lisbie again the danger man; his gem of an angled pass gave Payne the simple task of touching home..
Six minutes were added at the end of the half and Colchester earned a penalty in the fourth minute of the six. Ryan Stirk brought Micah Mbick down and Payne hit coolly home to Hemming’s right to claim a hat-trick and give the Us a three-goal lead at thei interval.
The Spireites had a mountain to climb but they started the second half brightly without seriously threatening. An injury to the home keeper help up play for a couple of minutes and broke the Spireites’ rhythm.
Lisbie continued to be a constant threat on the right and the home fans felt the referee was lenient when he was knocked off the ball in the area.
Just after the hour-mark, Paul Cook made a triple change. Tom Naylor replaced John Fleck, Dilan Markanday took over from Mandeville and Berry replaced Will Dickson.
In the 68th minute the scoreline got worse as the impressive Lisbie latched on to an inch perfect long ball from Mbick and hit coolly past Hemming for Colchester’s fifth.
In the 80th minute, Chesterfield pulled a goal back and what a gem it was. Substitute Berry picked up just inside the opposition half and ran and ran before curling a lovely shot into Macey’s left-hand corner.
Substitute Samson Tovide had a great chance to make it six but his close range hit was saved well by Hemming.
The referee awarded seven additional minutes and in the first of those six Tovide should have done better with his close range effort from a super pass from John-Kymani Gordon.
In the last of those minutes Harry Anderson hit home a tight angled shot into the roof of the net to seal a decisive victory
Chesterfield: Hemming, Tanton, Grimes, Mandeville (Markanday 63), Stirk, Grigg (Bonis 44), Fleck (Naylor 63), Dobra (Darcy 78), Gordon, Dunkley, Dickson (Berry 63)
Substitutes not used: Daley-Campbell, McFadzean
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 4,879
