Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 4 Newport County 1
League Two Game #10
Regular readers of this column know I like to bring music into play from time to time. The first band I ever paid to watch was Be-Bop Deluxe (January 1977, Sheffield City Hall), they remain my #1 band, and one of my favourite songs of theirs is called ‘Possession’ which has a lyric in the chorus that states, ‘Possession, possession, paying the price’.
After ten games in EFL2, Chesterfield head the table on average possession, 62.1% with Grimsby Town second on 62.0%. Bottom of the possession table? Leaders Walsall on 35.1%!
In the win over Newport County, Paul Cook’s side banked 55.6% but won, the only game with less possession has been at Harrogate Town, which was won, and the next lowest was at Cheltenham Town, another win. Open games, opponents wanting to play, the Spireites tend to sort it out.
Highest possession matches this season? Walsall, lost, Gillingham, lost, Mansfield in the Carabao Cup, lost. Lots of ball, generally less open games, not ideal for Chesterfield, and after four League games without a win, Town needed to ‘Bring Back the Spark’ (another Be-Bop Deluxe tune), and they did just that.
Newport were quick, attacked in numbers, ideal opponents, especially as they lacked a bit of quality in the vital end zone, and when they did break through, Zach Hemming was on song, two good saves.
Chesterfield were wasteful early on, indeed County almost provided two assists at 0-0, before Will Grigg headed his first of the season. Brilliant movement to shake off two defenders, equally superb delivery from Liam Mandeville.
Spireites #7 will go down as providing a second assist just before the break, but come on ‘Mandy’, admit when you made your pass from the edge of your own box to Will Dickson, at no stage did you feel it would be classed as an assist! The Man City man, in his first start since a visit to another County, Ross, for Motherwell in the SPL, ran, and ran, and ran, lung busting, into the Newport box, cut inside, weaker left foot, perfect hit, goal. Wow, what a moment, watched by a posse of family and friends, a moment he’ll never forget and a Goal of the Season contender in the bank. Turning round at 2-0 was deserved and that second goal was a great tonic for the home fans.
Low risk stuff after the break, all very comfortable, but in true Town style, nail-biting moments came along when fresh off the bench sub Michael Spellmann delivered a shot that looked like being gobbled up by Zach, but it hit Jamie Grimes to deflect in. Making his first league appearance of the season, the big defender was solid and along with Chey Dunkley, restricted County’s raiders to a few half chances, with great support in front from Stirk and Fleck. After what he described as a ‘career low’ at Crewe in the Vertu Trophy, this was a great bounce back.
The frayed nerves were soon allayed, and the team was soon back in control-mode when Armando Dobra popped a defence splitter through for Ronan Darcy to dink over the keeper in fine style and fellow sub Dilan Markanday showed his brilliant best to get onto another pinpoint through ball, from another sub, Tom Naylor, to mesmerise many and slot home the fourth, putting the boot in as he slotted it under the body of New Zealand international keeper Nik Tzanev, who hails from Wellington, and he’ll be bitterly disappointed with that one.
A few more stats; it’s now a year since Chesterfield were last awarded a league penalty (at Donny, 28 September 2024), Mandeville’s five assists is a divisional high despite starting only two games, it works out an assist every 46 minutes, Dobra remains the most fouled player in L2, and the Spireites are the section’s most accurate passers with 78.7% being completed and they’ve made the most passes in the division with 4697. All means diddlysquat if you don’t score though!
Colchester United next, just four goals in five home games, but with Danny Cowley in charge, they’re going to be well coached and well disciplined. Kyreece Lisbie, son of Kevin, who also played for Colchester, has four goals from just four starts and six sub appearances whilst defender Jack Tucker is the only ever present for a team which also features ex-Spireite Harvey Araujo.
Next weekend sees the two teams immediately above Chesterfield play each other, Salford City host Grimsby Town, whilst leaders Walsall host the team just below the Spireites, Bristol Rovers, so the upper echelons could look a fair bit different before you know it.
Four points off the top, unbeaten at home; we’d have taken that at the start of the season. Wouldn’t we?
Phil’s Positive: Scored four, could have bagged more, first of the season for the Wills, Grigg and Dickson, two more assists for Mandeville the Machine, super-subs score, Darcy and Markanday, lots and lots of candidates for MOTM.
Next Match: A trip to Colchester United next Saturday, October 4, kick-off 3pm. United have yet to win at home this season (three draws, two defeats) Build-up on 1866 Sport starts at 2pm with the first and most comprehensive reaction coming in After the Whistle. Post-Newport, listen back to interviews from Kieron Dyer, Will Grigg, Dilan Markanday, Will Dickson and Jamie Grimes in this week’s podcast.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Hemming, Tanton (Daley-Campbell 66), Dunkley, Grimes, Gordon; Stirk, Fleck (Naylor 79); Mandeville (Markanday 66), Dickson (Darcy 66), Dobra; Grigg (Bonis 66). Subs (not used); Lewis, Berry.
Goals: Grigg 34, Dickson 43, Darcy 84, Markanday 88 (Chesterfield), Spellman 80 (Newport)
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Bookings: Stirk, Mandeville, Fleck (Chesterfield), Ogunneye, Spellmann (Newport)
Attendance: 7,726 (194 from Newport)
1866 Sport Banner Jones Man of the Match: Ryan Stirk (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
