Spireites through to next round

The Spireites progressed in the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 win against Southend United.

A header from Saidou Khan and strikes from debutant Luke Croll and top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga ensured the team’s route through. 

James Rowe made five changes to the side that battled hard for a point at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend. Melvin Minter, Calvin Miller, Liam Mandeville, Jak McCourt and new signing Croll came into the side. Out went Scott Loach, Laurence Maguire, Jamie Grimes, Jim Kellermann and Tshimanga. 

The visitors opened the scoring, in the fourth minute, with the first opportunity of the game. Rhys Murphy was played through on goal and chipped the ball over the onrushing Minter.

Just a minute later, the Spireites found themselves level. Miller worked the ball onto his right foot and delivered an inch perfect cross which Khan headed home at the back post. 

From the Blues’ first corner of the game, Croll got his first for the club. The ball was recycled by Manny Oyeleke to McCourt whose shot was well saved but Croll took the ball down and fired into the bottom corner. 

The Spireites were almost on the scoresheet again. Jeff King played in a teasing ball that Miller attacked at the far post. The crowd thought it was three but an excellent acrobatic save from Steve Arnold managed to keep the ball out the net. 

After a calm period, Chesterfield were the next team to have a chance on goal. King dribbled into the area off the right flank before Mandeville hit a right footed effort that was saved low to Arnolds left. 

Just before the half time whistle, Stefan Payne pounced on a miss control and saw his deflected effort drop agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Within a minute of the restart, Minter was called into action. Sam Dalby flicked a header on which the Blues keeper smartly saved to his right. 

Dalby was involved in the build-up to their next opportunity. He played in Murphy down the left who ran through on goal but had his shot pushed out for a corner.

The Spireites’ first shot in anger of the second 45’ came after neat play from Mandeville on the left, he burst into the box but fired over.

Moments after entering the fray, Tshimanga was unleashed by Kellermann, the former ran the length of the Southend half before tucking the ball into the far corner, past Arnold.

In injury time the Spireites gave away a penalty, but Dalby blasted his penalty high and wide. Moments later, Miller and Zak Brunt were given their marching orders after the two teams settled an incident.

The Blues managed the game well in the closing stages to ensure their place in the second round.

Spireites line-up: Minter, Miller, Whittle, Kerr, Croll, King, McCourt (Weston 75’), Oyeleke, Khan (Kellermann 63’), Mandeville (Tshimanga 75’), Payne (Tyson 65’)

Unused Subs: Loach

Attendance: 4,713 (291 away)

The Spireites progressed in the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 win against Southend United.