Comprehensive victory for young Spireites

Chesterfield FC Under 21s took control in a dominant performance against Staveley MWFC on Friday night, winning 5-0. 

The young Spireites soaked up the early pressure from Staveley before Lekan Torres had a chance of his own for the young Spireites but dragged his shot wide. Moments later, an exquisite touch from the number nine found Torres in behind the Staveley defence but once again, sent his shot narrowly wide.

Real chances were few are far between, with most of the action coming through the feisty midfield battle. That was until Tansley was inches from giving Chesterfield the lead on the 20-minute mark when he powered his header over the crossbar.

The Spireites’ hard work and determination finally paid off as Kee (25) blasted his side into the lead. The attacking midfield strutted up the pitch before shimmying onto his right and unleashing a strike into the far corner.

Following his early chances, Torres finally had the ball in the back of the net. As he wheeled away to celebrate, the in-form striker spotted the linesman’s flag up, who had ruled his goal out for off-side.

Tansley looked to have improved on his impressive goalscoring record from midfield, but a sliding Staveley defender blocked the Chesterfield man’s shot on the line, denying Tansley’s 25th goal this season.

With half-time on the horizon, Tansley was frustrated by the off-side flag twice in two minutes; the midfielder peeled off the back of a Staveley defender before lofting a header over the keeper, before poking home at the back post from a corner. The players and fans were beginning to get agitated, with questions being raised over the decisions going against Chesterfield.

Chesterfield kicked off the second half in style. A Staveley clearance found Blakeley (49) near the edge of the box and he fired a bullet into the far corner from a tight angle. The young Spireites finally had a bit of daylight between themselves and their opponents. 

Just like buses, only one goal all first 45 minutes, and now two in two minutes. After his midweek hat-trick heroics, Torres (51) got in behind and slotted the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper, scoring the goal that he deserved all night. That made it 34 goals in 23 starts this season.

Despite being denied himself on multiple occasions, Tansley gifted Butcher-Simpson (56) a goal with one of the passes of the season. Butcher-Simpson still had a lot to do and decided on an audacious scoop to give Chesterfield their fourth of the night. If that was not enough for the number three, he then curled a beautiful shot to make it 5-0 a minute later.

No more goals after the hour-mark was a surprise to many, with the young Spireites playing out the 5-0 win to aid them in their North Midlands Development Football League title charge. An important three points for the youngsters.