Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Cambridge United 1 Chesterfield 1

League Two Game #19

Sorry I’m a bit late penning my Take, but not back home until after 1am, I had a 9.30am meeting with one of the CFC directors followed by Sean O’Neill’s Memory Club, that featured Tony Currie and Elvis as a singing duet. Just a typical sort of day!

Plus it’s in keeping with Spireites’ own late late show, with Kyle Mc-fizzed-it-in (inspired by my travelling companion Paul Fisher, or is that Fizzer?) scoring after three minutes of stoppage time. Arguably the most important goal of the season to date, halting a four Ls on the trot, keeping Cambridge within one point rather than four, boosting morale and confidence after it has taken a bit of a knock.

I reckon it was our first stoppage time away goal that altered the result since Ryan Colclough earned a 2-1 win at Gateshead in March 2023. Plenty of home extra time joy since then, Bradford City, FC Halifax Town, Hartlepool United, Dorking Wanderers and the 2-0 down to win 3-2 over Eastleigh, so it was well overdue and very welcome. The last defender to level last gasp to earn an EFL away point? Tom Anderson at Gillingham on Valentine’s Day 2017 in League One.

Was it deserved? Computer says no, Cambridge out statted us in all departments bar possession, whilst watching it live, I have to agree. Over the 90, second best for sure but Cambridge never rammed home their first half advantage when the edges of Storm Bram were very much in their favour, with kick after kick of Zach Hemming stalling in the air before reversing a bit. They had one disallowed for offside, I’ve seen the replay once and wouldn’t have flagged myself, Zach made one great save as we were pinned back for much of the opening period.

Second half, blustery, but not as strong, Town much livelier. That said, Hemming again needed to be alert, Liam Mandeville made a miracle on-line block whilst at the other end, Dylan Duffy forced a top save from ex-Spireites loanee Jake Eastwood and Ronan Darcy hit high from a good spot.

But the tick tock of the clock had all but unwound when the Spireites won a free-kick just inside their own half. Hemming launched it, Chey Dunkley rose along with a defender, loose ball hashed up by a United defender, came to McFadzean on the edge of the box, flick up, crash bang wallop, point bagged, luck ridden, hosts gutted.

United went into the game with equal most home wins in the division, fewest home concessions in the division and unbeaten in eight in all competitions, clearly tricky opponents. Add a longish grass and slippery pitch plus the wind, and conditions were far from ideal for Chesterfield and that showed. Poor first session, but turning round only one down, a curled in left wing corner and thumping header from Kell Watts, was far from a disaster.

Cambridge managed to continue to be a threat in the second half, but the Spireites began to show and demonstrate some potential for an equaliser, but in all honesty, by the time it came, the majority of travelling fans had probably reconciled themselves to a long and quiet journey back home. But McFadzean, whose only other Chesterfield goal was the critical second in the 3-1 home win against short-handed Bristol Rovers (an early one that, only in minute 84), ensured there were 450 relieved soles making the journey back to North Derbyshire with the first points reward earned at The Abbey in 36 years, deserved or not.

Barnet bashed Bristol Rovers 4-0 on Tuesday and the Bees come to us on Saturday having lost on their last four visits to Whittington Moor, conceding 17 goals in that quartet of contests. Dean Brennan’s side are unbeaten in six in L2, but the five before the Rovers rout were all draws. They sit two spots and one point behind Paul Cook’s side having made a decent return to the EFL, from which they exited at the same time as Chesterfield in 2018. They’ve picked up more points away from home (16) than at The Hive (12), so clearly will be far from pushovers.

Eligible to play will be McFadzean and Dunkley, who both went to Cambridge on four yellows for match #19, the last one in the ‘five yellows and you’re suspended’ run. Next yellow suspension marker, ten before game #32. Not sure if Mr Cook will be invited to watch from a comfy seat after a seventh booking of the season!

Phil’s Positive: Scoring at Cambridge, none of the 14 teams that have visited The Abbey Stadium in all competitions this season have managed to bag more than one goal, making that last gasper particularly sweet.

Next Match: Saturday, December 13 at 3pm, Barnet visit us at the SMH Group Stadium. Listen to the build-up and After the Whistle on 1866 Sport from 2pm with commentary being on the subscription platform. Hear from the Gary Roberts, Liam Mandeville, Luke Butterfield, James Berry, Adam Lewis and scorer Kyle McFadzean in the After the Whistlepodcast from after the Cambridge game.

Chesterfield (4–2–3–1 to start): Hemming; Tanton, McFadzean, Dunkley, Lewis (Gordon 67); Naylor, Stirk (Butterfield 67); Mandeville, Darcy (Dickson 80), Duffy (Berry 67); Bonis (Grigg 80). Subs (not used); Boot, Daley-Campbell.