Magnificent seven for U21s

Ross McParland’s hat-trick, a brace from Kian Tansley and further goals from Brandon Bradbury and Adam Blakeley ensured Chesterfield’s U21s kept their place at the top of the Spring Cup table, following a 7-0 victory on Friday evening at Staveley MW’s ground against Swallownest.

Manager Neil Cluxton made three changes from the previous week with Jacob Barrass, George Wilkinson and Brad Charlesworth replacing Abdul Barre, Harrison Beeden and Louis Czerwak.

The early stages saw Chesterfield in charge with shots from McParland and Charlesworth, which were both saved by the Swallownest keeper.

The young Blues took the lead in the 23rd minute when McParland found Tansley in the area, who blasted the ball into the net off the bar, with Kallan Murphy following up to make sure.

Chesterfield doubled their score eight minutes later when a pass by Tansley found McParland, who slotted the ball into the goal.

A superb long pass by Blakeley on 38 minutes found Murphy in the area, who was fouled by the keeper. However, from the resulting penalty, the industrious Bradbury shot over the bar. 

Swallowest finished the half strongly, but an excellent save by Dylan Wharton and a goal-line clearance from Callum Brook kept the visitors at bay, to give Chesterfield a two-nil advantage at half-time.

On 62 minutes, good work down the left by second-half sub Archie White found McParland, who placed the ball into the net. Although the Swallownest players disputed the goal, video evidence clearly showed the ball was over the line.

Four minutes later, Chesterfield increased their lead to 4-0 after an excellent cross from Murphy found the head of Tansley, who registered his 16th goal of the season. At this point, Cluxton brought on two U16 midfielders, Sam Hooper and Max Cook, who both quickly joined in the action.

Bradbury further increased Chesterfield’s advantage when his low shot from outside of the area found  the net. However, the goal of the game came from defender Blakeley who, after Leigh Whelan’s shot was saved, lashed the ball into the top corner of the net from an acute angle.

On 82 minutes, McParland completed the rout, when he dispossessed a defender and clipped the ball past the keeper for his hat-trick and Chesterfield’s seventh goal of the night.

The U21s, fortified with confidence, go into their next game on Thursday with an away fixture against AFC Mansfield. 

Chesterfield: Wharton (Preston 72), Blakeley, Barrass (White 61), Brook ©, Wilkinson (Ashley 67), Whelan, Bradbury, Charlesworth 69 (Hooper 67), McParland, Tansley, Murphy (Cook 67).

Goals: Tansley 23, 66, McParland 32, 62 & 82, Bradbury 71, Blakeley 75

Booked: Bradbury 79.

Other results:

AFC Mansfield  7-0  Borrowash Victoria AFC

Eastwood CFC  1-2  Stapleford Town