Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Morecambe 2 Chesterfield 5
League Two Game #14
Chesterfield have only ever scored five (exactly) on 11 occasions away from home in points-offering matches. That’s in the club’s history. Three of them have been in Paul Cook’s second spell. Impressive.
Clearly the squad are playing dominoes on the coach on the way to away games, fives and threes for sure this season, after Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Newport County and now Morecambe. That’s 18 away goals, next best in the division are Fleetwood Town (14), best goal difference at +13, one better than Walsall and the 28 goals scored in total is also a sectional high.
This 5-2 triumph was far from straightforward. With around 35 minutes played, and 1-1 on the scoreboard, getting through to half-time level was looking very tricky indeed, a real target to achieve to ensure the gaffer could start to put things right. That said, the ref missed (as did most of the commentary box team) a blatant handball which should have led to a visitor penalty, but as things turned out, the team recovered from that bit of bad luck.
Solid start, one-up early from Dilan, levelled straight away with a peachy free-kick headed in at the near post, and then the Shrimps came to life, prawn again. Blue couldn’t fine blue, the red wall held firm, chaos reigned, much of it (as PC said afterwards) caused by his men and, for the close on 1,000 Chesterfield followers, when asked ‘what do you think of it so far?’ … the answer would clearly be as predicted by Eric Morecambe, ‘rubbish’. That 45-minute whistle was very welcome.
Grimes and Dobra were removed from the half-time on the pitch subs’ gathering by coach Paddy Byrne and introduced at the re-start. Town seemed a different side for a while, DJ’s free-kick perfection was evident again, 2-1 up. In truth, undeserved.
Bottom of the pile Morecambe’s men revved up again, dominated again, scored again, all-square again, Spireites frustration again. But Morecambe didn’t have James Berry on their bench to give them an edge. Chesterfield did, and he subsequently blew the Shrimps out of the metaphoric water with a masterclass of wing play in his half-an-hour or so on the park.
Run, shoot, goal. As Mr Punch would say on Morecambe seafront, That’s The Way to Do It. His third Goal of the Season contender with his sixth goal of the season. Then Berry assist #3 of the season, a scooped up ball for Armando to run onto, lots to do, duly done. 4-2, at Morecambe though, you can never say ‘Game Over’.
But it was over when skip headed home at the back post from a Mandeville corner on 89 and, it has to be said, Jamie looked delighted. The last time he scored in an away win was the 5-1 triumph at Torquay United, a game DJ also scored in, and his goal led to a new first, the first time three Town subs have scored in a game. The bench won it, Paul Cook had Dobra, Grimes, Berry, Grigg and Banks. Derek Adams didn’t. To be fair, not many other teams in EFL2 have that depth, either.
The final scoreline in no way reflects Morecambe’s show. They worked ridiculously hard, they got in Chesterfield’s faces and forced an error strewn hour, a pre-Halloween horror show from the Spireites, but the tricks of Berry ensured the treats went home to Chesterfield. And had his outrageous shot from distance in stoppage time dipped under the bar rather than clatter the woodwork, he could have emptied the tin of Celebrations by himself. Thirty minutes of work, Man of the Match for sure, whilst playing against one of his best pals and former housemate at Hull City, Callum Jones, with his family and friends in the stands. Life is good.
Cup time next week, Isthmian Premier League Horsham visit Whittington Moor in the world’s oldest football competition. Looks straightforward, surely won’t be, but Cookie loves the Cup, the finance director loves the prize money, so expect a solid side chosen to progress next weekend. It’s all a bit unknown for Town, but the Hornets are buzzing after a 2-0 away win this weekend in the FA Trophy at Canvey Island, that’s eight unbeaten in all competitions, same as Chesterfield, so who’ll be one over the eight on Saturday night!
Phil’s Positive: The Bench! At 2-2, and not going swimmingly, up step Berry, Dobra and Grimes, all off the bench, all on the scoresheet, Town’s first ever three-subs score day.
Next Match: Horsham (h), Saturday, November 2, FAC1, 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 (4-2-3-1 to start): Thompson; Daley-Campbell (Dobra 46), Naylor, Araujo (Grimes 46), Gordon; Oldaker, Metcalfe; Markanday (Banks 80), Mandeville, Colclough (Berry 65); Madden (Grigg 65). Subs (not used): Rinaldo, Jacobs.
Goals: Markanday 8, Oldaker 48, Berry 74, Dobra 81, Grimes 89 (Chesterfield), Tollitt 10, Naylor (og) 62 (Morecambe)
Referee: Tom Reeves
Bookings: Metcalfe, Markanday (Chesterfield), Stott, White, Dackers, Edwards (Morecambe)
Morecambe manager Derek Adams was booked.
Attendance: 3,666 (960 from Chesterfield)
Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: James Berry (chosen by Barrie Stimpson)
