The Spireites recorded their first win of pre-season on Wednesday night, winning 3-1 away at Matlock Town. Liam Mandeville, Danny Rowe and Nathan Tyson were on the scoresheet for the Blues.
The first action of the game saw a ball forward neatly controlled by Stefan Payne who turned well and played in Mandeville (3), who slotted the ball home from the right side of the six-yard box.
After ten minutes of jostling in midfield, the next chance fell the way of Rowe whose thunderous free kick flew just over the bar.
Soon after, Payne found himself in on goal, but the backtracking defender managed to deflect his goal-bound shot wide. Minutes later, he found space on the edge of the box, but his shot was well saved down low to the goalkeeper’s left.
After a Spireites penalty appeal was waved away, the home side’s forward managed to get in behind Gavin Gunning but his shot was well saved by Scott Loach.
The home side pulled a goal back just after the hour-mark. Jamie Grimes gave away a foul 25 yards out which Alex Byrne stepped up and put into the top right corner of the goal.
Chesterfield responded well after conceding and when Mandeville found space on the right, his cross was met by Rowe whose header narrowly missed the target.
Just before half time, Payne held the ball up well and waited for Rowe to support. He laid it off to the latter whose thunderous first-time shot from 30 yards out skimmed the bar on its way into the net.
The Spireites made three changes at the break. Calvin Miller, Nathan Tyson and a trialist entered the fray.
Matlock created the first chance of the second period. The trialist in goal couldn’t capture the ball in his box and the home striker attempted a lob that landed on top of the net.
On the hour-mark, the goalkeeper pulled off a good save following a Matlock corner, high to his right.
Both sides struggled to gain any momentum with various changes being made throughout the second half. The best chance fell to substitute Tom Denton as he saw his header comfortably saved by the goalkeeper.
Just before the final whistle, Saidou Khan burst forward,starting a counterattack from a home corner. He found Tyson just inside the area and the striker’s snapshot struck the underside of the bar before hitting the back of the net.
Chesterfield: Loach, Maguire, Grimes, Gunning, Whittle, King, McCourt, Oyeleke, Mandeville, Rowe, Payne
Subs (Roll on/Roll off): Miller, Tyson, Trialist, Trialist, Khan, Rowley, Denton
