Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Chesterfield 3 Bradford City 3

League Two Game #44

After four hours at the microphone, I retreated into the lounge to my family and friends, mentally shot to pieces. I sat down, zombie-like, saying nowt, in a world of my own. When I did speak, my voice was hoarse after almost jettisoning my tonsils towards the near touchline after commentating on the sort of match we all want to see every week. Result, not what we wanted, mistakes too frequent for sure, entertainment value, off the scale. In weather forecast parody style, a scorchio type of match. Fast show indeed.

Two committed sides, either could (and should) have won. Promotion-chasing Bradford City were the best side we’d seen at the SMH for years for the opening half hour or so. Out of the traps on the front foot and unplayable. You could immediately see why they are set for a step-up. Kavanagh’s pace and off the ball running was exemplary, Sarcevic’s vision and distribution stunning, Pointon popping up in pockets of space for fun, Halliday marauding down the right and the defensive midfielders and back three crunching into tackles, mostly won, with City players picking up every second ball. Pointon 1-0, penalty 2-0, game seemingly over.

A few Town tweaks with Tom Naylor dropping back a tad and the wide men coming in a bit and, gradually, the hosts start to enjoy a bit of play and with 40 on the clock, you had the feeling that Paul Cook’s charges didn’t want the half-time whistle to come, and fortunately it didn’t come bang on 45, allowing Jenson Metcalfe to convert a pull back from Micheal Olakigbe to give the home players and fans some hope. The Everton loanee’s first ever senior goal put Chesterfield right back in it.

Front foot start again for City and, for the second time, game over as Pattison arrived in the box late to convert a fine header.

Time for major surgery from Town, a couple of changes at the back and Liam Mandeville, whose appearance #239 in points awarding games put him level with David Reeves and into the all-time Top 30, was switched into a deep midfield role, and the changes saw Liam the Legend and Jenson the Interceptor start to run the show. The magnificent midfield maestros helped to enthuse the always noisy, always supportive home fans and, despite being 3-1 down, there was a degree of confidence around the stadium, confidence that was confirmed when Metcalfe’s fine ball to Will Grigg was only bettered by a top notch finish by Chesterfield’s #9. Still time.

Bradford, on the break, still deadly, but they were showing more signs of fatigue than the by now rampant blue team and as crosses were delivered and the shot count started racking up, it felt like an equaliser was inevitable and an unlikely winner possible. Sadly, it took until 90+2 for Naylor to feed Mandeville, first shot fluffed, rebound left-pegged, deflected and in. Decibels all round, loudest since Bromley in the play-offs, voice issues as those tonsils reverberated like a pro-boxer’s speedball in the build-up to a World Title prize fight. Every reason you want to watch football rolled into a couple of seconds. Adrenaline, emotions, one point good, three would be better.

Five left, you felt there was a chance. News that Grimsby Town had conceded last-gasp, but alas, no fairytale ending meaning Bradford made it eight on the trot without defeat against Chesterfield and ten without defeat on our grass. Sadness and frustration though blown away in seconds when we all quickly reconciled what we’d witnessed. A top team running away with it against a top team who were not quite at the races, pegged back by a top team working like Trojans against a tiring top team. Terrific. All played in a cauldron like atmosphere packed with committed players, management and fans alike, the only dissent from the stands being directed towards a referee whose interpretations of some of the physical aspects of the game differed a tad from the nine and a half thousand qualified refs in the stands!

Two to go, still in it. Beat relegated Morecambe on Saturday and there will still be a chance of reaching the play-offs. The weekend sees #9 Salford City host #8 Colchester United (draw please) whilst #6 Notts County visit Harrogate Town (home win please) and #7 Grimsby Town travel to MK Dons who’ve stepped up a gear under new boss Paul Warne, one win and one draw in his two games to date.

The ideal scenario would see Chesterfield (+15 goal difference), Grimsby (-5) and Colchester (+8) all end Saturday on 67 points with Notts (+18) two further ahead and Salford (+7) a point behind, with final day fixtures being Grimsby v AFC Wimbledon, Notts v Donny, Colchester v Barrow and Carlisle v Salford as we travel to seek a first ever win at Accrington Stanley’s Crown Ground.

Slim for sure, but it can be done. Back in 1989/90, Chesterfield went into the final fixture against second-placed Grimsby Town in ninth place, behind Carlisle and Peterborough. The Spireites did their bit, winning 2-0 whilst Carlisle lost 5-2 at Maidstone and Posh blew it, losing 2-1 at home to Southend, ensuring Paul Hart’s side sneaked in the season extension zone on goal difference. Believe.

Phil’s Positive: The game as a spectacle, superb, League Two football at its finest. Six years in the wilderness, six goals in Town v City, not winning was the only disappointment.

Next Match: Saturday, April 26 at home to relegated Morecambe. The match kicks-off at 3pm. All of the build-up on 1866 Sport from 2o’clock, then onto the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website), with half-time and After the Whistleremaining on the 1866 Sport App, online and on smart speaker. Hear Danny Webb, Michael Olakigbe, Liam Mandeville and Jenson Metcalfe in the Bradford City edition of After the Whistle on the club’s podcast channels.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Mandeville, Palmer (Madden 81), McFadzean (Grimes 66), Araujo (Gordon 66); Fleck (Oldaker 81), Metcalfe; Olakigbe, Naylor, Colclough (Duffy 74); Grigg. Unused Subs: Thompson, Pepple.