Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 1 Swindon Town 1
League Two Game #1
Disappointed? Don’t be! The last time there was such a big gap between Football League games for Chesterfield FC was due to the Second World War. The long wait from 1939 to 1946 (the League restarted in 1946/47) saw Bradford Park Avenue visit Saltergate on the opening day after that extended hiatus.
The game ended 1-1, with the great Len Shackleton scoring for PA, whilst Ken Booker scored a penalty for Town. Completely unrelated, the referee on Friday, Scott Oldham, is a bathroom and kitchen tiler, loves a grout, absolutely nothing nailed on for him! After that draw, Chesterfield went on to enjoy the club’s best season EVER, finishing fourth in the old Division Two, aka the Championship. Long break, 1-1 restart equals top-notch campaign!
It was lights, cameras and action as a packed SMH watched the game in the newly tittivated surroundings and the early exchanges were positive, culminating in Armando Dobra becoming the first Spireite since Kristian Dennis to score for the club in the EFL. Deserved, and the home side’s domination of the game, without being as threatening as a Skegness Seagull adjacent to a bag of chips, continued.
Swindon Town, featuring champions Jeff King (who was booked early on, quelle surprise) and Miguel Freckleton, were pinned back by regular forays forwards led by debut making full-backs Tanton and Gordon regularly picking out the attacking quartet at the sharp. Unfortunately, visiting keeper Bycroft was only really tested once, making a super save from Will Grigg, but (as a peg in the ground) the Robins’ three-man centre-back line-up featured champion Frecks, promoted from L2 last season Will Wright (for Crawley) and Grant Hall, who last season was playing in the Championship. No slouches.
Half time, best side, solid show, no scares, no penalties (believe it or not), great platform. Pretty perfect return.
Was Swindon’s leveller a great goal? Was it a reminder that L2 is a step-up? Was it one of those we’re run at, back-off, Achilles heels moments? Was it a function of award scooper Tom being at the back rather than in the middle? A combination of all of that I’d say, ending with a rocket shot that you don’t always associated with a big defender, who incidentally turned down a contract offer to play in L1 with Crawley to join Swindon Town. Nevertheless, it was the visitors’ only moment of attacking positivity in the game.
They didn’t park the bus, they just lacked a bit of creativity combined with Paul Cook’s team’s hefty possession count, almost two-thirds of the game saw the blue team with the ball. Swindon won zero corners but their uncompromising style earned five yellows.
To go back to the start, I was disappointed with picking up just one point, we were better than that on the night. The positives by far outweighed the negatives.
Watching Devan Tanton reminded me of 2010/11 right back Jack Hunt, who was an untried youngster who came in, unheralded, on loan from Huddersfield Town. Played throughout the first half of the season to great plaudits, was called back by his parent club, immediately becoming a regular, soon helping them get promoted to the Championship ahead of signing a four-year deal with Premier League Palace. This boy has potential.
Devan Tanton
It was no surprise that Chey Dunkley looked solid, or that Lewis Gordon can tackle, run and cross, whilst in front of that back four, the six starters were all Spireite last season, so we know their capabilities well. I’ve seen plenty of social media Man of the Match contenders, generally the sign of a decent team performance. That was what it was, decent without being remarkable. I’ll take it as a starter, which Liam Mandeville wasn’t, but his sub appearance made it 200 points-offering starts for the ever popular raider. Perspective? That’s three more than Jack Lester, and this season he’ll probably overtake Blatherwick, Dyche and Evatt. Proper Spireite.
League Cup, or Carabao to give it League Cup, or Carabao to give it its proper handle, next up. Derby County, 4-0 losers at the SMH in pre-season, 4-2 losers at Blackburn Rovers on Friday. We can all look back fondly to Chesterfield’s magnificent run in the competition in 2006, beating Wolves (on pens), Man City and West Ham (I was there yesterday for a friendly against Celta Vigo, hence my slightly delayed ‘Take’), before losing to Premiership Charlton on penalties.
We played in 11 more seasons of the competition before being excluded from it for six more; our record in those 11 campaigns? LLLLLLLLLLL. Sort it out, Cookie!
Phil’s Positive: First point on the board, better side, decent show, lots of potential. Oh, and it was in EFL2!
Next Match: Derby County (A), Tuesday, August 13, Carabao Cup first round, KO 7.45pm. Full commentary for subscribers via https://spireitestv.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/media/uPLyKX_tOGmcTZkpJDity (Select ‘buy stream’ option to just listen to this match or click on ‘View Plans’ for monthly/season pass).
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Tanton, Naylor, Dunkley, Gordon; Banks, Oldaker; Jacobs (Mandeville 72), Dobra (Drummond 85), Colclough (Berry 72); Grigg (Quigley 85). Subs (not used): Daley-Campbell, Williams, Akinola.
Goals: Dobra 15 (Chesterfield), Wright 66 (Swindon)
Referee: Scott Oldham
Bookings: King, Wright, Clarke, Cotterill, Smith (Swindon)
Attendance: 9,262 (859 from Swindon); the highest opening day crowd for over 50 years.
Banner Jones 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Devan Tanton (chosen by Josh Marsh)
