Chesterfield continued their unbeaten start to the Jersey Mike’s Trophy with a 1-1 draw against Port Vale, whilst also picking up an extra point with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory.
The Spireites now remain unbeaten in their past six matches in all competitions, without losing at home since mid-August.
Paul Cook made ten changes to the side that beat York City at the weekend, as the Spireites looked for their third win in a week on home turf. As for Port Vale, Jon Brady made six changes to the side that suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Walsall.
The away side looked to make a positive start to the game after a tough start to their season but a compact start from the Spireites’ backline made it difficult to break down.
The first chance of the game fell the way of Max Watters who managed to find his way in behind the Chesterfield defence, but his low driven shot was denied by the outstretched leg of Ryan Boot.
Vale had more chances to open the scoring, but Headley could only drag his shot wide and Watters, identical to his chance earlier in the half, had his attempt saved by Boot.
Chesterfield’s first shot on goal came late in the first half, a cross from Junior Eccleston which found his fullback partner Tom Pearce whose volley went high and wide.
Port Vale broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with an Onel Hernandez goal. The former Premier League star raced through on goal and his deflected strike left Boot stranded as the ball trickled into the back of the net.
There was a flurry of late chances for the home side as they looked to equalise before the break. A penalty appeal was waved away after Liam Mandeville tangled with George Byers.
Just after, the away side failed to clear the ball and Joel Randall used quick feet to turn and shoot but his shot was well saved by Marko Marosi and Kiano Dyer came close but could only drag his shot wide of the near post.
Alfie Pond was substituted at the break for Alex Whitney, who signed his first professional contract with Chesterfield this summer.
The second half started with few chances for either side, Headley coming the closest for the away side and Chey Dunkley and Fraser Bryden could only drag their attempts wide as the Spireites looked to level.
Cook looked to his bench to get his side back in the game, seeing both Will Grigg and Dylan Duffy getting their first appearances of the season, along with Louie Marsh who was looking to build on his positive start to his time at Chesterfield since signing in the summer.
It didn’t take long for Marsh to have an impact on the game. Just five minutes after entering the fray he slotted into the bottom corner after a clever turn and pass from Dyer. His fourth goal of the season, all coming in the past five games.
Marsh was playing with a spring in his step, linking up cleverly with Grigg, he then drove with freedom to the edge of the box, but his shot flashed wide of the mark.
The Spireites looked the more likely of the two sides to grab a second. Twice Grigg met Duffy’s freekick but could only divert his shot over the crossbar on both occasions as they battled away to find a winner.
With the game finishing as a stalemate, a penalty shootout was in order to see who would get the extra point.
Boot made two penalty saves to clutch the extra point for the Spireites after denying both Maleace Asamoah and Cameron Humphreys, with Duffy stepping up to slot home the deciding spot-kick for the Spireites.
Boot, Eccleston, Pond (Whitney 46), Dunkley, Pearce (Duffy 65), Dyer, Lamptey, Naylor (Cook 82), Mandeville, Randall (Marsh 65), Bryden (Grigg 65).
