Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Notts County 2 Chesterfield 2 National League Match #4
We’re all a bit deflated, frustrated and exasperated. That’s having picked up a point on one of your main rivals’ own park, a plot of land that in the last ten months has seen promoted Grimsby Town the only visiting National League winners. The Magpies may nick plenty of points there, but they don’t give up too many.
There’ll be plenty saying ‘same old, same old’ after being two-up, as we were at Dorking Wanderers in the opening match, and ending up with just a point, and you can’t argue too much, as the team has had a propensity to give up such advantages in recent times. Solihull, Stockport, Altrincham and Torquay all got some reward last season after being two down. Disappointing.
The concession of the first that gave Notts a sniff was very disappointing. Concentration dropped, safety first was ignored and communication seemed to be lacking, which enabled Macauley Langstaff to pull one back. His equaliser two minutes later was a cracking header, with substantially less culpability assigned to those in blue.
Straight off, the great work of the opening hour was forgotten by many, but not by me. At no stage were the Spireites purring like they did against Wrexham on Tuesday; they gave the ball away too often and didn’t turn solid positions into chances, but the work-rate and endeavour made Notts look poor, so much so the still unbeaten side was booed off at half-time when they were just one down. Without playing to their potential, Paul Cook’s side had negated and deflated a serious contender.
The single goal in the first half was another fine one. Tyrone Williams’ long ball saw Joe Quigley gather, hold, wait, and wait some more before delivering in for Akwasi Asante who, under pressure, squirmed the ball back to Liam Mandeville to control and drill home. Quigley was involved in the second as well, passing in for Asante to blast home and give Chesterfield what, at that point, seemed a more than solid lead.
We all knew Notts were better than they’d shown, and the introduction off the bench of Austin and Scott brought immediate reward, though indecision from the visitors was, in reality, the main catalyst for the hosts’ opener. And before you knew it, parity. Disheartening.
County moved up a few gears and threatened to take the lead but gradually, Chesterfield began to repel attacks and build their own raids, with several rapid corners being won and chances were created, but none were taken, and Notts didn’t take the openings that came their way in the latter stages.
Definitely two-dropped, but the one earned was against a big gun. It was an away point, the second one of the season to go with two home wins. Win your homes, draw your aways, happy bunnies! That’s been achieved, but few blue are bunnies deliriously happy, though the vast majority are mildly gratified. Beat Barnet on Friday night and we’ll start the weekend at the top of the table. That’ll do nicely.
Top of the enthusing charts? Armando Dobra, he’ll rip holes in many a rearguard this season, whilst DJ and Ollie continued their quest to dominate every opposing midfield this term.
Main disappointments? Too many loose passes, a few drops in concentration and an occasional bit of amnesia with players sometimes forgetting that wellying clear is often more acceptable and effective than trying fancy-pants defending or pussyfooting around.
More good than bad, but coming hot on the heels of a match with no bad at all, our short-term memories perhaps forgot that there’s plenty of bad in existence in the National League. Seeing 2-0 quickly become 2-2 in both the two opening road trips isn’t where we want or need to be, but I’d take being 2-0 up at some stage in every single away match this season.
Bring on Barnet, our last four results against them have been W4-1, W4-2, W2-0, W6-0. Kabby and Akwasi have both notched hat-tricks in those games and scored nine between them. As I said, BRING ON BARNET!
Phil’s Positive: Being the dominant force for the majority of the game against a major competitor. Town were not at the top of their game, but still looked the better side barring a ten-minute spell from the hour-mark. The thought (in advance) of four points in the week would have had 99% of Spireites snatching your hand off.
The Spireites’ next game is at home to leaders Barnet on Friday August 25, kick-off 7.45pm. Can’t get, or even going? Full match build-up on 1866 Sport Live starts at 7pm, so listen via the App, Smart Speaker or online.
Team v Notts (4-2-3-1 to start): Fitzsimons; King, Williams, Grimes, Horton (Maguire 90+1); Oldaker, Banks; Mandeville, Dobra, Asante (Clarke 87); Quigley (Tshimanga 67).
Subs (not used): Cooper, Jones
Goals: Mandeville 16, Asante 55 (Chesterfield), Langstaff 60, 62 (Notts)
Referee: Scott Tallis
Booked: King, Dobra, Oldaker (Chesterfield), O’Brien (Notts). Chesterfield manager Paul Cook was also yellow-carded.
Attendance: 8287 (1852 from Chesterfield)
1866 Sport Man of the Match: Armando Dobra (chosen by Ryheem Sheckleford)
