First-team coach Gary Roberts praised the players’ work ethic during their 3-0 pre-season victory over Bradford City. A brace from Joe Quigley and a goal from Liam Mandeville were enough to seal victory for Chesterfield.
The Spireites started the game brightly in the opening ten minutes, pressing Bradford in their own half and winning the ball back high up the pitch.
Kian Harrat thought he put Bradford ahead after poking the ball past Colovan, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Akwasi Asante forced a good save from Harry Lewis with a powerful shot from inside the box.
The Spireites then had a goal of their own ruled-out for offside after Branden Horton found Armando Dobra inside the box who headed the ball into the bottom corner.
The Spireites had a second goal ruled-out for offside after Quigley connected with another Horton cross on the edge of the six-yard box.
Oldaker played the ball to Horton on the left-hand side and his cross into the box was met by Quigley at the back post with a great header to give the Spireites the lead in the 49th minute.
Horton and Quigley linked up again to double the Spireites’ lead in the 57th minute. Horton pulled the ball back to Quigley who glanced it into the bottom right corner.
The Spireites made it 3-0 shortly after, in the 58 minute. The ball from Jeff King found Mandeville on the edge of the area, and he composed himself and struck the ball into the top left corner.
Roberts said: “We have done okay. The victory wasn’t the most important bit today, it was seeing how our players can showcase what we have done on the training ground for the last three to four weeks and I thought they did.
“We took the ball back off them quite a bit today, which was really pleasing. The amount of work the players have put in over the last four weeks, they have been an absolute pleasure to work with.
“We’re really pleased with the lads; they have given absolutely everything. We’ve had them running round loads and they haven’t looked sideways; they’ve just got their heads down and worked.”
On Joe Quigley, Roberts added: “He has come in with big boots to fill, when ‘Kabby’ got injured, everything came to Joe.
“Joe has come back, fresh start, chest out. He’s looked after himself over the summer, he looks a lot leaner and fitter.”
