Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Lincoln City 0 Chesterfield 1
Bristol Street Motors Trophy, Northern Group G
It was like watching Chef United as two Cooks cooked up the prefect recipe. In a nutshell, the big cheese whetted the appetite with a team selection that he hoped would cut the mustard, whilst the spring chicken (off the children’s menu) chose to nutmeg the Peacock (Jeacock actually, but near enough) to ensure he was worth his salt and confirm he was the Chef de Party (sic). The apple of the big cheese’s eye with a cool as a cucumber onion bag hitting goal that pipped the Red Imps. Oh, those salad days of youth.
Was it a strong Lincoln City team? The League One outfit started with four players who began the weekend’s win over Stevenage, whilst Spireites starters for both this game and at Gillingham numbered just two. City’s starting 11 had no teenagers and 28 league appearances between them this season to Town’s two teenage starters and 16 league appearances this season. The hosts were strong enough.
City’s last home game had been a 4-1 win against Mansfield Town, and they started confidently and immediately began to put Chesterfield’s reshaped formation featuring a very experienced back three, under pressure, but from the off and throughout, the Williams-Dunkley-Grimes triumvirate played with great energy and determination against two big strikers who were regularly being hit early by the home wingers, Dylan Duffy and Erik Ring, both U21 internationals for Republic of Ireland and Sweden respectively.
Indeed it was 22-year-old Ring’s City debut, his last match was in the Swedish top-flight for AIK Solna at the wonderfully named Strawberry Arena, which a few months ago crammed in over 60,000 to watch Miss Swift belt out her hits, including the song called 22, which surely must be about the colossus that is #22 Chey Dunkley. He’ll be missed against the Mariners.
It was all a bit hectic in the visiting 18-yard box for the opening 45, lots of blocks and a couple of decent interventions from debutant keeper Thompson, but after the restart, Chesterfield looked more assured in the areas ahead of the solid back line.
Bailey Hobson, who was superb throughout, began to tease a little and he controlled a great high diagonal ball from Ali Mohiuddin on the left, cut inside, his shot was saved by Zach Jeacock and with three blue shirts in the vicinity of the rebound, Connor Cook reacted the quickest and placed the ball through the keeper’s legs for his first senior goal, to add to the shoot-out penalty he bagged in the first game in this competition against Man City.
Dad high-fived everyone in the dugout and immediately subbed his son (the triple change had already been planned!) On trotted Dobra, Oldaker and most important of all, Liam Mandeville, and from that point, the Spireites played with a level of assurance and nous, never looking like surrendering the lead.
In the final few minutes, no gung-ho-let’s-go-for-another sort of play, just sensible keep ball, head for the corners, no potential Salford-style naivety, mistakes clearly learned from. Spot on.
City’s frustration grew, they committed just about double the amount of fouls that Paul Cook’s side did. Mind you, I do think the visitors got the majority of 50-50 ref decisions, though there were no big calls for Mr Ricardo to make.
Plenty of decisions for Cook senior to make ahead of Grimsby’s visit on Saturday. Clearly the centre back zone is numero uno in the head scratching department. No Dunkley, so will it be Naylor and Grimes? Williams and Grimes? Williams, Naylor & Grimes? If not Naylor, what will the midfield look like? I’m Mandy, play me? Gaffering is tough!
Last season, one of the greatest sources of pride for me was the mullering of Southport in the FA Trophy with a load of youngsters in the squad. Whilst I confess to not being a great fan of this competition (I deliberately wore a Mickey Mouse cap at the game, it was plain Royal Blue, no ears on it), there was a similar warm feeling when the final whistle went, and speaking to Connor and Ali afterwards confirmed what it meant to them. Mind changed, let’s go for it!
Bring on the Grimsby, not only on Saturday, but in the final group game in this tournament, which is now annoyingly over two months away.
Phil’s Positive: Three at the back worked well & Mandeville’s back, what’s not to like.
Next Match: Grimsby Town (H), Saturday, September 7, League Two, KO 3pm. Full commentary for subscribers on the new commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 2pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App.
Chesterfield (3-4-2-1 to start): Thompson; Williams, Dunkley, Grimes; Daley-Campbell (Oldaker 56), Jones, Mohiuddin (Mandeville 56), Jacobs (Markanday 72); Cook (Dobra 56), Hobson; Drummond (Grigg 72). Subs (not used): Boot, Naylor.
Goal: Cook 55 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Bookings: Daley-Campbell, Jones, Oldaker (Chesterfield), O’Connor, Erhahon, Earley, Gallagher, Jeffries (Lincoln)
Attendance: 2,208 (343 from Chesterfield)
Banner Jones 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Jamie Grimes (chosen by Josh Marsh)
