Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Colchester United 6 Chesterfield 2
League Two Game #11
What a great weekend. Friday was spent with good pals at The Whisky Festival alongside the River Thames in Central London sipping some superb drams; Sunday was granddaughter Pippa’s birthday celebration day, 11 now, though 11 kids with access to unlimited fizzy pop and gigantic indoor inflatables isn’t always a calming environment.
In between, nothing happened on Saturday. Move on, nothing to see. There was no defending to see, no midfield battling to see, precious little attacking to see. Certainly no filling to remember in what was otherwise a wonderful weekend sandwich.
Even Storm Amy, in deepest darkest Essex at least, didn’t deliver as promised, although it did rain Colchester attacks, striped shirts continually breezed through the flimsy wind-breaks with the only forecast needed being to predict whether United would hit the target with every attack. Fortunately keeper Zach Hemming made seven saves to prevent the strengthening attacks from becoming the Payne of a hurricane.
It certainly was TOWIE. Town’s Opposition’s Win Is Easy. And in the first outing of the new third kit, the one shade of grey didn’t help to whip up any enthusiasm from the 501 travelling masochists.
Rarely has so much Chesterfield talent come together in such a manner, repeatedly cut to shreds, and when the cutting edge of Colchester was not at its sharpest, the Spireites grey-vy train switched to reverse with moments of tragic magic to help United’s cause by giving them the ball, or a penalty, or a chance to add to the horror scoreline time and again.
Colchester rattled up 23 shots, 13 on target. Chesterfield’s previous five EFL games spawned a total of 13 shots on target combined.
But as Paul Cook told me afterwards, it’s not the ‘Goals For’ column where the problem lies. Only Swindon and Grimsby have scored more than our Town’s 20 goals this season, whereas Crawley, sitting in position #20, are the highest placed side to have conceded more than the Spireites’ 19.
Colchester were quick all over the park, they were tough all over the park, they were determined all over the park and they played the narrow park much better than their opponents. The width of the pitch certainly didn’t help Chesterfield, whose passing was generally of a very low standard, but the five previous visitors there this season didn’t find it so tough, as every one of them went home with at least a point.
At 2-1 down with 43 minutes played, there was some hope. Then Will Grigg went down, then off, and straight from the restart, it was 3-1 and before the half-time Bovril was poured, it was 4-1 thanks to a penalty and a Jack Payne hat-trick. Club historian Stuart Basson sent me a text stating that of the 112 previous occasions an opponent had bagged a hat-trick against Chesterfield, 111 had ended in defeat with the one draw being witnessed 120 years ago. With 43 played, the result was in doubt, with 45 to go, the result was inevitable. Blink of an eye bunkum.
The biggest irony of all was that Chesterfield’s two goals were both absolute crackers, a great team move for Liam Mandeville to deliver some hope, and a great run and finish to remind us just what James Berry is capable of. ‘Bez’ was on Josh’s shortlist of two for potential Man of the Match, but in the end the keeper got his vote, which is some statement after seeing six hit the netting, but Zach did pull off three or four top stops.
The last thing on everyone’s mind right now is football, and the next match is in the Vertu Trophy against Burton Albion on Tuesday, early start at 7pm, seven sadly being the number we already associate with this competition. What crew will the gaffer select to take on Gary Bowyer’s Brewers? Who knows, but after the last match in the EFL and the last match in the Vertu, I need a beer!
Sorry for doing an impression of the defence on Saturday, by coming in a bit late with my Take, but all for the right reasons, no conspiracy theories please, but it was difficult to avoid singing to Pip on Sunday without thinking, ‘Happy Birthday six-two, Happy Birthday six-two.’
Burton may become a bit of a midweek blur, something of a nuisance, but Salford on Saturday is now, in the minds of many Spireites supporters, a season re-set. Six points from six games has been incredibly disappointing, in both reward and manner.
Eighth position and despair are not normal bedfellows, but we all know the talent that is in the Chesterfield squad. Expectation levels have changed, which is great, but no matter what goes on at the sharp end, it’s at the other end where we are being hurt, far too often, and it’s that goals against column that has to start to improve, but being honest, that’s something we’ve all felt for more than just this weekend.
We’re still unbeaten at home, only Bromley can also say that, and with the next three games, including Burton, being at the SMH Group Stadium, that record needs to be continued, hopefully with a few clean sheets thrown in.
Phil’s Positive: The quality of the two goals was terrific, great to see James Berry back on the scoresheet, but those two bright moments apart, positives were playing, and winning, at hide and seek!
Next Match: Vertu Trophy action at home to Burton Albion, Tuesday, October 7, kick-off 7pm. Build-up on 1866 Sport starts at 6.30pm.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Hemming, Tanton, Dunkley, Grimes, Gordon; Stirk, Fleck (Naylor 63); Mandeville (Markanday 63), Dickson (Berry 63), Dobra (Darcy 77); Grigg (Bonis 43). Subs (not used); McFadzean, Daley-Campbell.
Goals: Anderson 4, 90+6, Payne 12, 44, 45+4 (pen), Lisbie 68 (Colchester), Mandeville 20, Berry 80 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Lee Swabey
Bookings: Dobra (Chesterfield), Vincent-Young (Colchester)
Attendance: 4,879 (501 from Chesterfield)
1866 Sport Banner Jones Man of the Match: Zach Hemming (chosen by Josh Marsh)
