Spireites draw with Shots

The Spireites and Aldershot Town shared a point apiece at the Technique Stadium in James Rowe’s first home game in charge.

Rowe made one change to the side that beat Weymouth at the weekend with Liam Mandeville replacing Joe Rowley.

New signings Jak McCourt and Tom Whelan were immediately selected for the bench. The latter arrived from last Saturday’s opponents, Weymouth.

The away side came close in the opening moments. Mo Bettamer let fly with a powerful effort from range which whistled wide of a post.

Chesterfield created a couple of big chances on six minutes; Jonathan Smith did well to knock the ball over the Aldershot defence before his shot was saved by Brad James. The midfielder played the ball back to Akwasi Asante, but his effort rolled wide of the goal.

After a period without many chances, the Spireites came close with a couple of chances. Firstly, Tom Denton’s volley forced James into a smart save.

On the half-hour mark, Curtis Weston fired a shot from 30-yards out and the Aldershot keeper flew to his left and got a strong hand to it. The two sides went into the break level.

The hosts continued the pressure in the early stages of the second half. Asante brought down a Smith header before turning his man and firing inches wide.

Chesterfield were presented with a golden chance just before the hour-mark; Mandeville closed James down but slipped as he connected with the ball and his shot was skewed away from goal.

Aldershot’s best chance of the game came in the 65th minute. A cross from Shadrach Ogie was almost sliced past Kyle Letheren by Will Evans.

With 20 minutes to go, McCourt was brought on for Smith. After a poor clearance from the goalkeeper, the midfielder, who was making his second debut, looked to lob James from range. The ball looked destined for the net but the goalkeeper manager to flick the ball over for a corner.

The Spireites thought they had finally got an opening goal in the 79th minute. Laurence Maguire’s cross found new signing Tom Whelan whose shot deflect off Scott Boden and into the back of the net. Unfortunately, the offside flag denied the striker.

Soon after, Aldershot were reduced to ten men. Alfy Whittingham went in strong on David Buchanan and referee Adam Herczeg had no choice but to send the midfielder off.

Despite Chesterfield’s best efforts, including a Denton header off the line, Rowe’s side couldn’t find a way past James and recorded their first draw of the season.

Chesterfield: Letheren, Cropper, Yarney, Evans, Maguire, Buchanan, Weston, Smith (McCourt 70), Mandeville (Whelan 59), Asante (Boden 77), Denton.

Unused Substitutes: Yarney, Rowley.