Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Wealdstone 3 Chesterfield 2 National League
The Spireites took an early lead when Tom Denton converted from the penalty spot after keeper Harry Isted felled Nathan Tyson, whose first start of the season unfortunately lasted less than seven minutes as that challenge led to a dead leg. All looked well, but two goals in quick succession by the hosts, a high cross for Moses Emmanuel to head home on 13 and three minutes later, a low cross that was side-footed home by the same player, changed the game completely.
John Pemberton had started Tyson as he predicted Wealdstone’s high line and felt that his speed off the mark could see him get beyond the defence. He did exactly that for the penalty, but his all too brief participation meant Luke Rawson was introduced very early and the re-cast front line was unable to exploit the gaps in the same way.
The hosts’ early successes also saw the manager switch to a back four, with Josey Yarney coming on to play at right-back, and that eventually stifled the Wealdstone raids and, in the second half, which showed improvement on what Pemberton said afterwards was “the worst (45 minutes) we’ve played this season, it wasn’t good enough from us” more chances were created by Chesterfield.
Curtis Weston bundled the ball into the net at 2-1 only for the referee to say that Tyler Denton had handled in the build-up as Chesterfield played much of the game in home territory but as the visitors pushed on ever more, Stones made it 3-1 with a cracker of a shot from Jacob Mendy on 81.
Tom got his second, another flicked header from a Jordan Cropper throw, and in the seven normal minutes and six added ones that followed, Scott Boden was denied by a great tip-over save, Rawson had a goal-bound shot deflected over, Weston hit just too high and Big Tom was denied a hat-trick after he’d rolled the ball in, but Boden was adjudged to have fouled the keeper going for a 50/50.
Plenty of chances to have drawn level, but in truth, the overall 90 minutes was not where the manager, the players and the stream watching the Spireites would have wanted it to be. There were too many misjudged passes and over-hit balls forward and too many moments of hesitation at the back, with too few crosses cut out at source.
Eight of the nine goals conceded this term have come from the opponents’ left, an area the manager is well aware of. He said: “We spoken about it, highlighted it, but then we have to go and do it in the games, but we didn’t do it well enough and that’s what happens if you don’t do it well enough at key moments and you end up getting beat.”
I asked John to sum up the game and his views were simple and to the point: “First half, not good enough, second half, better.”
On a positive note, Tom Denton has become the first Spireite this century to score five goals in the opening five games; not even Super Jack or Eoin Doyle can match that. You have to go back to 1999 when David Reeves scored six in the opening five games, including all four in a 4-2 win over Cambridge United. Best not say what happened at the end of that season!
Phil’s Positive: Tyler Denton looks like he could become a vital team member
The Spireites’ next game is on Saturday, October 24 at Stockport County in the FA Cup, kick-off 3pm.
Team v Wealdstone (3-5-2 to start): Letheran; Sharman (Yarney 37), Evans, Hollis; Cropper, Weston, Smith, Mandeville (Boden 85), Tyler Denton; Tyson (Rawson 7), Tom Denton.
Subs (not used): Wharton, Butterfield
Goals: Chesterfield – Tom Denton 3 (pen), 83, Wealdstone – Emmanuel 13, 16, Mendy 81
Ref: Lloyd Wood
Yellows: Weston, Tom Denton, Boden (Chesterfield), Isted, Lewis (Stockport)
