Academy match report: Salford City (a)

The youth team won 3-1 at Salford City in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

After a draw at Rotherham United, the young Spireites travelled to Salford in search of their first away win of the season.

Salford had registered an impressive 6-1 win against Stockport County last time out and were going into the fixture full of confidence.

After a bright start to the game from the Spireites, Luca Vegari made a good run into the right channel, beating the full-back and crossing into the box for Jack Brassey to finish in style and open the scoring on 12 minutes. 

The young Spireites dominated the opening exchanges, but Salford worked their way back into the game and equalised from a corner on 32 mins through a strong header.

Just before half-time, Neil Cluxton’s side regained their lead after Vegari made a strong central run and shot from outside the box to fire the away side into the lead a minute before the interval. 

Chesterfield added a third on the hour-mark when right-back Barnaby Smith carried the ball through the Salford half and struck a left-footed shot from 25 yards into the top corner to make it 3-1.

The away side set up to defend the lead and Ashton Rinaldo was in outstanding form, pulling off two excellent saves to keep the two-goal lead.

After his penalty heroics in the Spireites’ encounter against Manchester City U21, Rinaldo came to the rescue once more when the Ammies were awarded a penalty with 12 minutes to go, pulling off another outstanding penalty save to deny the home team from 12 yards.

The young Spireites held out to obtain three well-deserved points after an impressive team performance. 

Young Spireites Man of the Match: Kayden Scott

Starting line-up: Rinaldo, Smith, Scott. Reah, Bointon, Weaver, Brassey, McKernan, Vegari, Pawson, Sim