The Spireites secured a comprehensive 5-0 win at Crewe Alexandra in their first away fixture back in League Two, with James Berry scoring twice. Will Grigg, Tom Naylor and Armando Dobra also found the back of the net.
Crewe hadn’t won a league game at home since March and that run continued as the Spireites turned in an astonishing performance that saw them race into a 4-0 lead after just 28 minutes with a double from Berry and strikes from Grigg and Naylor. Dobra added a fifth four minutes after the re-start.
The dominance was overwhelming and, despite an improved second-half showing from the home side, they never really looked like conceding.
It was also hugely pleasing for other squad players to get game time and contribute well to an afternoon that will be remembered for many years to come.
Two days ago the Spireites signed Harvey Araujo on loan from Fulham and Dilan Markanday on a season-long loan from Blackburn Rovers; both made the squad with the latter claiming a starting slot. Paul Cook made three changes to the starting line-up from Derby: In came Grigg, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Markanday as Bailey Hobson, Devan Tanton and Joe Quigley made way.
Despite the furore over the ticket price, Chesterfield supporters turned out in good numbers. The Spireites kicked off, pushed forward strongly and took the lead after 32 seconds. Berry let fly from 25 yards wide left and his audacious hit deceived home keeper Filip Marschall and flew into his top left corner.
Chesterfield continued to pressurise the Crewe defence and after one sweet, six-pass move, Markanday hit for goal but Ryan Cooley cleared the danger.
The Spireites doubled their lead in the tenth minute. Markanday took the corner on the right and Naylor got his head to it but Grigg got the final touch. The celebrations had hardly ended when Berry added a third. Grigg played an astute ball to his left, Berry received and hit first time to give Marschall no chance as the ball flew home to his right as he notched his second of the game and the Spireites’ third.
The Alex had to pick themselves up and almost pulled a goal back just before the quarter-hour mark after Jack Lankester dribbled into the area – his low shot was claimed well by Ryan Boot.
Things got even crazier when the Spireites made it 4-0 after 28 minutes. Almost a replica of the second. Naylor got his head to another Markanday corner to direct the ball home perfectly and send the Chesterfield fans into dreamland and prompt many of the home fans to leave the stadium in despair.
Crewe boss Lee Bell decided the situation called for urgent action and he made a triple substitution after 38 minutes; moments later the move almost paid dividends as Kane Hemmings brought a world-class save from Boot, after Ryan Cooney had provided the ammunition.
Three minutes were added and the Spireites managed to close twice. Daley-Campbell tried a shot from distance and then provided Grigg with a clear opening but home keeper Marschall was a split second quicker to react.
It seemed quite surreal as the half-time whistle blew and we were able to reflect on one of the most dominant first-half performances in the club’s history and it could have been even more emphatic.
Crewe started the second period in a much more determined manner
That new found endeavour was blown away in the 49th minute when Lewis Gordon put Dobra through and he weaved his way through the area before coolly slotting home to Marschall’s right to score the Spireites’ fifth.
Four minutes later, Marschall denied Berry his hat-trick with a stunning finger-tip save.
Cook made his first change after 58 minutes when Michael Jacobs replaced the impressive debutant Markandy.
Crewe battled bravely and substitute Max Conway got his head to a cross from the right and clattered the crossbar \
Cook made three more changes as Araujo, Hobson and Quigley took over from Berry, Dobra and Grigg. Minutes later, academy graduate Liam Jessop joined the action as Daley-Campbell made way.
All of the new entrants into the game slotted in well as Chesterfield continued to control the tempo with their calm, controlled style of play
It seemed it really wasn’t Crewe’s day when a pin-point ball in from Shilow Tracey saw Hemmings unable to connect with the goal at his mercy.
The Spireites eased their way through the three minutes added time and thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations with their loud and proud travelling fans.
Chesterfield: Boot, Daley-Campbell (Jessop 76), Naylor, Dunkley, Gordon, Oldaker, Banks, Markanday (Jacobs 56), Dobra (Hobson 66), Berry (Araujo 66), Grigg (Quigley 66)
Substitutes not used: Williams, Jones
Attendance: 5,626 (1,131 Chesterfield fans)
Referee: Scott Tallis
