Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 1 Barrow 0
League Two Game #1
Last season, Chesterfield beat Barrow 1-0 at home. Jamie Grimes on 89 minutes the scorer. Opening day this season, Chesterfield beat Barrow 1-0 at home. Dilan Markanday bang on 45 the scorer and he told me afterwards that was his first headed goal since his days in Spurs Under-18s.
Two similarly low-key games of few chances, same outcome, but a very different story to tell. Last season’s 1-0 was played out on a blustery November afternoon, the 23rd day of that month, home game #12 in all competitions. And it marked the Spireites’ first Whittington Moor clean sheet of the season. Seven of the previous 11 had been drawn and one lost. Game #1 of the new campaign, great conditions, a much improved Bluebirds side and Town win, victory #1, but just as significantly, shut-out #1, something that took over 100 days to achieve on our own grass last term. The team is already two points up on last season.
Paul Cook said in the build-up that cutting out errors that led to concessions was his top priority and whilst there were errors, and there always will be, when they occurred in this encounter, and it wasn’t too often, the erring party was covered by one of his mates. It’s called teamwork and there was shedloads of it out there.
Ryan Stirk, what a debut, always in space, always available. Tom Naylor looked like Tom Naylor, strong, committed, solid in the air, Chey Dunkley surely passed his audition for Gladiators (not a fan of the show but I’m sure he’ll be tagged ‘Colossus’ – don’t think that moniker has been taken yet), I could go on, but that trio, for me, were the afternoon standouts.
That said, you can’t deny that the flair boys ahead of the engine room won the game. Armando Dobra involved early in the move, Dylan Duffy assisting the Dilan diving header. But you also have to say that they were frustrated time and again by an extremely well drilled and physical Barrow back three, including ex-Spireite Charlie Raglan, and their multitude of midfielders, including Regan Booty, son of ex-Spireite Martyn. If you think Barrow sub Tyler Walker’s name was familiar, the son of ex-England star Des had a short spell on trial here when Martin Allen was boss.
Dobra could have made the afternoon calmer if he’d scored from his one on one chance, whilst keeper Zach Hemming won his one-on-one battle with big striker Innes Cameron, who was playing his first ever game in England after making a name for himself north of the border with Kilmarnock in the SPL.
Talking of the SPL, Zach’s last competitive game was in front of close on 60,000 at Parkhead, with his side, St Mirren, moments away from a memorable 1-0 win before Bhoys legend James Forrest, 23 years a Celtic player, man and boy, scored right at the end to snatch a draw.
From the off, it certainly looked like a point would have been welcomed with open wings by Andy Whing’s charges, but despite not hitting the highest heights, much of that due to Barrow’s game plan, the Spireites’ attacking midfield triumvirate ensured the ultimate triumph was recorded in the record books when the final whistle blew. There’s more to come from them for sure.
Bonuses from the game included minutes on the park for Liam Mandeville, Paddy Madden and Matt Dibley-Dias, all of whom missed chunks of pre-season through injury, the latter being one of five first time Spireites along with Hemming, Stirk, Lee Bonis and Adam Lewis.
Another debut of sorts was that of referee Alan Young, a very experienced official, but this was his first game, home or away, involving Chesterfield and it means he’ll complete the set of EFL grounds he’s reffed on when he gets a gig at Cardiff City. Another day, Town may have had a penalty (or two), but with just one in the EFL last season, I can’t say I was expecting one!
Hard work combined with team work won the day and those traits need to be replicated at Cheltenham Town next weekend, a spot where last season Paul Cook’s side were just a bit off it but destined for a vital away point and a clean sheet, only for full-back Arkell Jude-Boyd to pop up in the last minute to toast Chesterfield. Michael Flynn, who’s assisted by a former favourite in these parts Aaron Downes, saw the Robins lose 1-0 at relegated Cambridge United in their opener.
The pick of their pre-season results was a 2-1 win over Swansea City and their summer transfer business sees four new contracted players. All at least 28 years old and experienced, plus three loanees, two being teenagers, plus 23-year-old striker Jake Bickerstaff, borrowed from Wrexham. He was loaned out to Altrincham last season.
Chesterfield, ten wins and five draws in 18 encounters with the Robins, have a fine overall record, but two losses and two draws have come along since that remarkable 4-1 win at Whaddon Road in 2014 when the Spireites banged in all four goals in a devastating seven-minute spell on the way to clinching the League Two title we all covet so much.
Let me end on a couple of Stuart Basson facts. The club’s official historian pointed out that only once before has a season started with a game against Barrow. The Spireites went on the win the Division Three North title in 1935/36, whilst previously, only one competitive game had ever been played by the team on the second day of August, against Grimsby Town in the 1980/81 Anglo-Scottish Cup, which was won by Chesterfield. So take your pick, opening opponent or rare fixture date, silverware was forthcoming.
Phil’s Positive: Ryan Stirk played like Tom Naylor when Tom Naylor first arrived at Chesterfield and Chey Dunkley played even better than the Chey Dunkley that arrived at Chesterfield a year ago.
Next Match: Saturday, August 9 at Cheltenham Town, 3pm kick-off. All of the build-up on 1866 Sport from 2 o’clock, then onto the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website), with half-time and After the Whistle remaining on the 1866 Sport App, online and on smart speaker. For post-match reaction from Danny Webb, Chey Dunkley, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Dilan Markanday, listen to the Barrow edition of After the Whistle on the club’s podcast channels.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Hemming; Daley-Campbell, Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon; Naylor (Dibley-Dias 86), Stirk; Markanday (Mandeville 80), Duffy (Madden 80), Dobra (Lewis 80); Grigg (Bonis 62). Unused Subs: Boot, Sheckleford.
Goal: Markanday 45 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Alan Young
Bookings: Naylor (Chesterfield), Smith (Barrow)
Attendance: 8,223 (413 from Barrow)
1866 Sport Man of the Match: Chey Dunkley (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
