The Spireites went down to a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Solihull Moors. They were reduced to ten men late on when skipper Jamie Grimes received a straight red card.
Two early errors provided Solihull with a dream opening and a lead that they managed to preserve right until the final whistle despite Chesterfield having the lion’s share of the ball.
The Spireites pushed forward relentlessly but despite having efforts hit the woodwork and cleared off the line, the break just wouldn’t come.
Off-side calls didn’t go their way and generally things just didn’t click, plus Solihull defended tirelessly as the Spireites failed to score for the first time this season.
Now to bounce back quickly against the same side at the SMH on New Year’s Day.
The Spireites arrived at the Armco Arena for the first of two festive clashes and the 11th league meeting between the two sides; the Spireites may be riding high at the top of the table but Solihull started with a slight edge in historic results.
Moors manager Andy Whing saw his side score a late winner at Oxford City at the weekend to secure fourth place in the table; he will have been looking to improve on that placing and ensure that his side offered a strong challenge to the Spireites..
Paul Cook chose to make four changes to the side that did the double over Aldershot. Missing out were Ryheem Sheckleford, Darren Oldaker, Michael Jacobs and Armando Dobra; they made way for Jeff King, Mike Jones, Liam Mandeville and Ollie Banks.
The large Chesterfield following noisily greeted the Spireites onto the pitch; Grimes won the toss and chose to defend the end housing most of the away support.
An early move saw King feed Will Grigg on the right, sadly Banks couldn’t control Grigg’s pass and the ball ran to safety.
A strong period of pressure brought the Spireites two quick corner kicks but neither created a clear opening.
Completely against the run of play, Alex Solihull scored after a mistake by Jones. His back-pass to keeper Tyrer was easily read by Mark Beck who pounced on the opening and coolly slotted home.
That lead was soon doubled when Callum Maycock poked home from close range after Beck had provided the perfect pass.
The Spireites needed to grab back the initiative but the home side “had their tails up” and had a new determination thanks to the two quick goals.
Grigg couldn’t quite control a King ball from the right and the ball ran free; in the next move of quality a great ball from Miguel Freckleton on the left saw Grigg slot home from six yards – the celebration was brief as the flag was quickly raised for off-side.
The Spireites piled on the pressure and a neat ball from Grigg found Colclough wide on the left, his ball into the area came back to Jones who hit waywardly wide of the home keeper’s left upright.
The Spireites went close when Tom Naylor got his head to Mandeville’s free kick; sadly home keeper Nick Hayes was there to claim.
There were two additional minutes awarded at the end of the first period but Chesterfield couldn’t manage to fashion an opening and ended the half with a two-goal deficit that they knew would not be easy to overcome.
The match resumed with the floodlights now switched on and Chesterfield also looked brighter as they dominated the early exchanges and almost pulled one back but Grigg couldn’t capitalise on Naylor’s square pass.
Plenty of flowing football from the Spireites but the breakthrough was proving elusive as first Griggs and then Jones both had shots blocked.
So close after King picked up the loose ball just outside the area, his angled drive was on target but was cleared for a corner by Jamey Morrison.
Paul Cook made a double substitution with twenty minutes remaining. Dobra and Jacobs took over from Mandeville and Jones.
Moments after the changes, Colclough looked certain to score as he cut inside and let fly only to see his strike clatter the upright.
Jacobs’ shot hit the woodwork and Freckleton then blazed the loose ball over – almost epitomising how the second half had played out.
Again so close, a great ball in from Banks saw Dobra connect well with his head only to see it cleared off the line.
Four minutes were added but instead of a goal the Spireites ended the game with ten men on the field. Captain Grimes received a straight red following an off-the-ball incident.
Spireites: Tyrer, Freckleton, Palmer, Grimes ©, King, Naylor, Jones (Dobra 71), Banks, Colclough (Berry 81), Mandeville (Jacobs 71), Grigg
Unused subs: Sheckleford & Quigley
Attendance: 2,614 inc 1,141 Chesterfield)
Referee: James Durkin
