Chesterfield suffered their first defeat of pre-season at the hands of Halifax Town, after a late comeback from the Spireites was spoiled by an even later winner from the home side to see it finish 3-2 to the Shaymen,.
New signings Ruel Sotiriou were on the scoresheet for the Blues, whilst Connor Douglas, Trialist and Josh Hnami.
Ryan Boot was called into action within four minutes when a deep cross from the left found Trialist at the far post who struck a powerful effort at the near post, but Boot denied.
Said Trialist had another shot moments later, striking low and wide from the edge of the box.
There was another chance for the hosts fifteen minutes later. Boot’s initial save from a left-sided shot rebounded into the path of Zak Gilsenan, who missed the target from a few yards out.
The home side’s pressure paid off in the 21st minute when possession was lost by Chesterfield just inside their own half. Douglas was set free on the left and drove into the box before striking across Boot and finding the far corner.
Gunner Elliott had the Spireites’ first chance of the game on the half-hour mark. Finding space to shoot just inside the box, he struck low to the trialist keeper’s left, who got down well to save. Oskar Wozniczka rushed in for the rebound but the shot-stopper recovered and pounced on the loose ball.
HT 1-0
Paul Cook made three changes at the interval with Trialist, Koroma and Sotiriou replacing Wozniczka, Trialist and Trialist.
Halifax doubled their lead four minutes after the interval. Boot got a touch on a low cross from the left which ricocheted up onto the crossbar and Trialist D reacted quickest to hit into an empty net.
Further changes were made with just over half an hour to play. With the remaining players who’d started the game making way for those who’d played the majority of minutes in Saturday’s draw with Sheffield United.
Dilan Markanday’s first real action came in the 74th minute when he regained possession inside his own half and made a bursting run forward before being fouled as he attempted to set Bonis in on goal.
The Shaymen looked set for a third with ten to play as Trialist capitalised on a loose pass and marched towards goal, but Boot stood big and made an important save in a one-on-one situation.
Two minutes later, Markanday was involved again as he crossed to Sotiriou on the edge of the box who saw a low effort deflected into the hands of the Halifax ‘keeper.
Sotiriou found the back of the net a minute from time. Striding towards the box on the right, he fired across goal and into the top left corner.
Almost immediately after the restart, fellow summer signing Koroma found his way past the Halifax ‘stopper to make it 2-2.
Halifax weren’t finished though, and managed to lead again in the two minutes of added on time, sealing the victory through Hnami.
After Markanday was fouled once again with minutes to go, Koroma’s free-kick from just outside the box struck a number of bodies on its way towards goal and was eventually cleared.
Spireites (first 60): Boot, Trialist, Dunkley, Naylor, Whitney, Butterfield, Trialist (Trialist 45’), Wozniczka (Koroma 45’), Mandeville, Trialist (Sotiriou 45’), Elliott
(last 30): Boot, Eccleston, Pond, Simpson, Gordon, Trialist (Cook 79’), McEachran, Mandeville, Sotiriou, Koroma, Bonis
Attendance: 362 (80 away)
