Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Chesterfield 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

League Two Game #21

AFCW arrived at the SMH Group Stadium in some sort of form. They left as AFCL.

A bit of magic three minutes in and a lot of magic three minutes before the final whistle. Between the enchanted moments, lots of graft. Real hard graft. Town toughed it out against a side with plenty of height advantage, a tall side who also were not afraid to stop Chesterfield in their tracks. A total of 18 fouls given against the visitors (I always thought Wombles were clean creatures), only Accrington Stanley, with 19, have committed more fouls on our grass this season.

Magic moment one: Quick free-kick rolled to a man with a solid seasonal name, Ollie. Inch perfect long-distance cross–field pass to Dilan, total control and roll to Mandeville, whose precision cross saw Armando deliver every bit as clinically as a big bloke sliding down your chimney.

Magic moment two: Time was up, bar three extra minutes and the finishing post* was rapidly approaching. Wimbledon (an ante–post* sort of team after an earlier double wood moment) were galloping* forwards time and again, with a never say die* approach, perhaps not with the grace of the great danseur Nijinsky* as the ball fell to long-shanks* Pigott*, who’d given Naylor and Grimes a taxing* time, he looked each-way* and everyone forecast* a goal, which looked a dead-cert* but the centre-forward hadn’t spotted the hurdle* in his path, AKA Max Thompson, who somehow beat the odds* to ensure Chesterfield won the race* by a short-head* to mean course and distance winner* Paul Cook’s side had notched up an EFL triple-crown* for the first time since Paul Cook was here last time. *Not sure what I would have written had the save been from Matty Stevens or Josh Neufville. Inspired by the great Lester, pretty close to the location of the former Chesterfield Racecourse!

Twenty minutes in, Town had been fantastic. Best spell of the season bar none. Flair on form, defence decisive, midfield magnificent. But Johnnie Jackson’s side started in fourth for a reason, they’re good, they can play, they can battle, and they started to get into their stride, mostly great big strides from great big players. Wearing all white, it could easily have been Bromley.

The reshaped back four looked in fine fettle. Ryheem Sheckleford, in particular, is walking tall at the moment. Despite him telling me he’s 5’9” he was popped into a ‘let’s see the game out’ back three for the final quarter of an hour, his debut in that role, but the ex-Maidenhead United man did his job well to end the game with an all-time career EFL record of P3 W3 F6 A0. Three wins, three clean sheets. Not at all bad for a defender debuting at this level.

That three straight clean sheets is no mean feat either. Games 1-18, a total of three shut-outs. Injuries galore, blank, blank, blank. Bromley, Boreham Wood and York City in October last year was our last such run in points offering games.

We’ve still hit wood much more this season than our opponents, but that heart in mouth millisecond moment was one of those ‘this is our day’ sort of moments, Max’s save all but confirmed it and the final whistle proved it was, and it was a masterstroke to instantly blare out ‘Well here it is, Merry Christmas’ after the opposition had been Slade, sleighed or slayed.

But for me, the moment of the game was a sliding tackle, in front of the Chesterfield College (East) Stand, by 1866 Sport MOTM Mandeville, typical of the non-stop man, which galvanised the crowd to ensure their support was vital in getting over the line. Downside? Easy, Colclough’s calf, another one in the queue for medical treatment.

Fading Fleetwood on Boxing Day. On the opening day of October they were 2-1 down at Walsall at half-time but won 6-2 to go fifth. In my opinion, the result of the season so far. Onwards and upwards. Since then, one win in 11 and down to position #18. Only eight scored in those 11 games after the six-hitting.

Gaffer is Charlie Adam, who Liverpool paid over £6m for and they sold him for £4m to Stoke City. The Scotland international was renowned as a tough player, so don’t expect the Cod Army to get battered.

After a run in the EFL of 3-0-0 for Chesterfield, somewhat appropriately, the match with be Game #300 for Chesterfield, in all competitions, with Cookie in charge over his two spells. Only Jimmy McGuigan (who will be overhauled in January), Ted Davison and John Duncan have been in charge for more games. Congratulations, Gaffer!

Finally, I hope all of your Christmas wishes come true. Enjoy.

Phil’s Positive: The all-round quality of play, sublime opening, then digging in for victory. I really enjoyed the contest.

Next Match: Fleetwood Town (A) on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26, KO 3pm. Full commentary for subscribers on the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 2pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App. The match is also available to stream, details also on the club website.

Chesterfield (4-1-4-1 to start): Thompson; Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes,Araujo (Horton 78); Banks (Oldaker 78); Markanday, Mandeville, Dobra (Hobson 78), Colclough (Berry 35); Grigg (Drummond 64). Unused Subs: Boot, Cook.