Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Wealdstone 0 Chesterfield 4 National League Match #37

That was fun. Not perfect, but nevertheless extremely satisfying.

Paul Cook rang the changes and all four incomers played a major part in the victory, as did the three most recent recruits, who all got on the scoresheet, whilst the potentially dangerous hosts were shut out. The Stones had scored in 10 of their last 11 home games, only Wrexham in that run managed to keep a clean sheet, indicating their propensity to score on the sloping Grosvenor Vale grass.

Over the last few weeks, many Spireites felt that the team was due to tonk someone and, despite not being Chesterfield’s most fluent show of recent weeks, a tonking was delivered and it could have been an even bigger one!

At 4-0, on came Jes Uchegbulam and the weary Wealdstone defenders couldn’t handle him. At the time of his 79th minute introduction, Town had not won a single corner. By the end of the game, the count was six, just about all resulting from the sub’s show. At least two more goals could have come in that short space of time, whilst there were a few shots and crosses that also should have led to the scoreboard clicking on, or doing whatever LED scoreboards do instead of clicking.

Stuart Maynard’s Ruislip based team, who have had a fantastic season, play in a certain way. They build from the back, if they find themselves in a cul-de-sac, their default move is to go back to the keeper and start again. Karl Robinson’s MK Dons did the same in 2014-15 and Cooky sussed them out, high press, errors, win 1-0 at their place. Seemed to happen every week what with George Margreiter and all that malarkey. Repeat at Wealdstone, who are not as good as MK were back then, and the 1-0 turns to 4-0. You could understand why the hosts play that way, because when they had to start going longer, their distribution was poor and Palmer & Grimes had a field day.

A second penalty in consecutive games (after a long absence), both despatched confidently by McCallum, and both in the 34th minute, gave confidence in a first half littered with injuries, the scorer and the home left-wing back both had to be replaced and Jeff King (who avoided a yellow, so escaped a two-game ban, he needs six more now!) was seriously incumbered by what Danny Webb described as a dead-shin.Nine additional minutes were added, enough to see sub Joe Quigley do extremely well to set up Ryan Colclough to cross in for the man fouled for the pen, Liam Moustache-ville, who slid in at the far post following a six-yard pinball.

Both sides could have scored in the remaining minutes of the half, but a 2-0 lead for Spireites was more than welcome, the first time since the 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic that Town have turned round with such an advantage.

Quigs was also in amongst it for the third, setting up Mandy for the cross in that enabled Andrew Dallas to poke home (not seen a replay, but the dressing room all said AD and not OG) and from then, it was all nice and relaxed on the terraces, but Town’s energetic pressing continued, Colclough forced Wealdstone’s Cook to err ahead of a Goal of the Season contender, a close on 40 yard chip over the keeper.

A frenetic finish after Jes’s introduction enabled the 244 Spireites there to have beaming smiles (and no chewed nails), as the temperatures plummeted towards zero, appropriate to celebrate an all too rare clean sheet, only the second away win in the NL (Oldham) to a zero from the hosts.

No rest again. Buses, cars and trains will be in action on Saturday for another lengthy lunchtime excursion to Woking, maybe taking in a cheeky pizza there, for what is a huge challenge for both sides in the chase of third spot. Clearly a draw will suit The Cards the most, they are undefeated at home in 2023, whilst Chesterfield will be desperate to make it four straight away maximums, something not achieved for the best part of two years.

With Armando Dobra almost ready to return, plus the impressive recall performances from Ash Palmer and Mike Jones, combined with the exciting assimilation of the newcomers, the gaffer has a strong hand for the nine game run-in, starting off with what feels to be the most pivotal game of that run-in.

A good performance would be welcome, but a good result is easily the most important outcome. A two-goal win would see Town back in third spot and able to enjoy a well-deserved no-midweek-game break ahead of the visit of FC Halifax Town.

Whether you’re at Woking, watching on the TV or listening to 1866 Sport, all we can ask is for the management and players to recognise that the most recent blot on the landscape was the shocking 3-1 home defeat against The Cards, and that on Saturday we select our best hand, continue our away run, flush out the challenge of the hosts and ace it tobecome one of the three highest clubs and enable us to erase the memory of those broken-hearts.

Phil’s Positive: No need to get the Dustbuster out to pick up bits of fingernails, it’s been a while! The last nine games have either been level or ended with just a one goal advantage to Town or their opponents,making manicure mayhem standard of late.

The Spireites’ next game is on Saturday, March 18, 2023, when we travel to Woking for a key encounter, 12.30pm kick-off; 1866 Sport will be live at the stadium from noon.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Fitzsimons; King, Palmer, Grimes, Maguire; Banks, Jones (Uchegbulam 79); Mandeville, Dallas (Oldaker 66), Colclough; McCallum (Quigley 40). Subs (not used): Williams, Horton.