Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Dorking Wanderers 2 Chesterfield 2 National League Match #1
One thing’s for certain, every Spireite will agree that the 28th minute red card for debutant keeper Lucas Covolan was the turning point in this match.
Live, I didn’t see the incident. Along with my co-commentator on 1866 Sport, Bailey Clements, we followed the ball after the Brazilian had exited his area to head clear, so when we subsequently heard the howls from the home end and saw a Dorking man down, that was our first inkling of an incident.
At half-time, Paul Cook’s son Connor showed Bailey the side-on video from the Town analyst’s wide-angled shot and he said it was difficult to determine, from that angle, on a laptop screen in the sun, whether Covolan’s hurdling caught his opponent accidentally or otherwise. Having subsequently seen the footage from behind the goal, if I was the gaffer, I don’t think I’d risk an additional match suspension and layout a fee on an appeal.
The red card from a referee, like the hosts, on show at this level for the first time, was the Spireites’ first on the opening day of the season since Craig Davies against Barnet in the first competitive match at what was then the B2net Stadium. He went on to achieve hero status and a title-winning medal.
We could debate the keeper-on-the-bench conundrum ad infinitum. The truth is, they are rarely used, though we have recent form when James Montgomery was injured against Notts in the play-offs a couple of seasons ago, whilst Covolan’s recent red card record will fuel the argument for many who feel a specialist sub is a must. Whatever our views, the game swung on that moment.
Two first-half goals, both delightful moves starting down Chesterfield’s right, saw Akwasi Asante continue his recent revival after being taken off the transfer list, whilst odds-on future cult-hero Armando Dobra marked his debut in style with the second. Half-time, two to the good, playing well, Banks in goal, what could go wrong?
At no stage will Ollie Banks have felt his 100th appearance for the club in all competitions would play out as it did. His burgeoning partnership with the club’s DJ, Darren Oldaker, was central to the early upbeat Spireites show. Incidentally, me and club historian Stuart Basson looked through endless lists and we are pretty sure that DJ is the first Town man to debut against the team we signed him from.
Dorking made a couple of changes at the break and began to put more balls into the box to challenge Banks, whose punching indicated he’d possibly thrive from getting a pair of Tyson Fury’s gloves. The stand-in was performing well, but he was clearly disappointed with his role in Wanderers’ crucial first goal which also looked set to be cleared off the line, but wasn’t, and the hosts got a sniff of an opportunity.
Ten minutes later, all square and a home win in the first meeting of these two clubs looked the most likely outcome, but our defence held firm, Banks made one top-drawer save and the Spireites had enough of the ball to carve out their own opportunities to win it. There were big shouts for a penalty when Michael Gyasi and keeper Slavomir Huk collided, but the rookie ref awarded a foul the other way.
Mr Cartmel, the town bearing his name is the home of sticky toffee pudding, added to his own red card tally by handing out a second yellow to Branden Horton, another debut-maker, for allegedly wasting time five minutes into stoppage time. The manager was adamant that Horton played no part in the build-up to the throw which had been awarded, with Laurence Maguire the man set to take it. Sadly, you can’t appeal yellows, so the left-sider will have to sit out the Aldershot game next weekend and Town ended with nine on the park for the first time in 14 years, since Lloyd Kerry and the Wales manager Rob Page had their times cut short at Daggers, with Kerry’s dismissal being particularly harsh, he reacted after being ‘Vinnie Jones-ed’ (think Gazza).
It’s a real pity that the overriding memory of this game will be a single, off-the-ball incident, rather than the excellent 45 minutes of recipe for success football played from the start, but the good news is that few of our 23 opponents would have been able to respond to what was dished up as a main course before the disappointing afters.
Phil’s Positive: 11 v 11, there was only one team in it. #Cookball as we love to see it, but on a hot day on an energy-sapping artificial pitch, being shorthanded and without a recognised keeper for so long would test any side.
The Spireites’ next game is at home against Aldershot Town on Saturday. Can’t get or even going? Full match build-up on 1866 Sport Live now starts at 2pm and continues until 5.30pm, so listen via the App, Smart Speaker or online.
Team v Dorking (4-2-3-1 to start): Covolan; King, Williams, Grimes, Horton; Oldaker (Gyasi 83), Banks; Mandeville, Dobra (Whelan 69), Asante (Maguire 58); Quigley.
Subs (not used): Sheckleford, Clarke
Goals: Asante 18, Dobra 40 (Chesterfield), McShane 67, Moore 77 (Dorking)
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
Booked: Dobra, Horton, Mandeville (Chesterfield), Philpot, McManus, Gallagher (Dorking)
Sent-Off: Covolan (28), Horton (90+5, second yellow)
Attendance: 2,244
1866 Sport Man of the Match: Joe Quigley (chosen by Bailey Clements)
