Tshimanga hits hat-trick in victory

A hat-trick from Kabongo Tshimanga helped the Spireites beat Barnet 4-2 at the Technique Stadium.

The striker’s treble included two penalties with Gavin Gunning’s free-kick completing the scoring.

James Rowe made five changes to the side that drew with Dover at the weekend, with Curtis Weston, Jeff King, Jamie Grimes, Stefan Payne and Saidou Khan coming into the starting XI.

The Spireites opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the contest. King floated in a corner towards the back post which reached Gunning who headed the ball back into the danger area and Tshimanga slotted in from close range.

In the eighth minute, Chesterfield doubled their lead to make it 2-0. After Payne was brought down in the area, the Spireites were awarded a penalty which Tshimanga smashed into the bottom right corner.

The Spireites continued to dominate as Calvin Miller whipped in a pinpoint cross to Tshimanga from the left, who narrowly put the ball wide of the right post.

After being played through on goal, Khan took the ball around the outcoming keeper but couldn’t convert the chance from a tight angle.

Curtis Weston played a brilliant through ball into Payne who did well to turn his defender and get a shot off, but Barnet defender Mitch Brundle did brilliantly to make a sliding block.

After a well-moved sequence of passing down the left flank from Miller, Manny Oyeleke and Khan, Tshimanga fired a shot towards goal which forced Sam Sargeant to make a diving save.

Barnet brought it back to 2-1 in the 44th minute. Tasdemir cut in from the left wing on his right foot and struck the ball into the bottom right corner after taking a heavy deflection.

The visitors equalised deep into stoppage time (45+3’). Sam Granville got a shot off from the edge of the box which found its way past Scott Loach after taking another big deflection.

The Spireites made it 3-2 in the 63rd minute after King was fouled in the penalty area. Tshimanga grabbed his hat-trick with a well taken penalty which he smashed straight down the middle.

Gunning (76) fired a free kick into the bottom right corner from 35 yards out to put the Spireites 4-2 up. 

With just five minutes of play remaining, Sargeant pulled off two great saves to deny both Tshimanga and Payne from close range.

Spireites: Loach, Miller (Whittle), Kerr, Gunning, Grimes, King, Oyeleke, Weston (McCourt), Khan (Mandeville), Payne, Tshimanga

Unused subs: Carline & Rowe