Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 2 Notts County 0
League Two Game #22
Whoever asked Santa for that one did a great job!
Three points against a club where, in the last ten meetings, only one game ended with more that one goal in it (our come from behind 3-1 win in 2022), three wins on the bounce and back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since August. Goals scored in the last 20 consecutive games in all competitions, the longest current run of all EFL clubs, no shots on target from the section’s most potent 19-goal opposition attackers, Dennis and Jatta, and the highest home Boxing Day attendance in 45 years. Cheers Mr Claus.
On the attendance, only the Maidenhead United final game in the NL (9940), the title clincher with Boreham Wood (9826) and the 2011 title clincher against Gillingham (9182) have had more home fans in attendance than the 9035 there for the Notts game. Well done everyone.
Boxing Day last season saw a threadbare Town lose 2-0 at Fleetwood and, like now, that locked the team on the same points as Notts, 34. A year on, the two teams are locked together again, both on 38 points, as on the day a year ago, they ended the day in sixth and seventh spots (though the other way round this time), two points off third place with Walsall at the top of the pile.
Only three starters at Fleetwood were in the starting XI against Notts; the uber reliable Tom Naylor, the metronomic Liam Mandeville and a man who had only started two of the previous 29 games in L2, club captain Jamie Grimes.
It’s no secret that the big man has had a tough time of late. Left out of the team after the 4-0 loss at Tranmere Rovers last spring, just two league starts this season, the excellent 4-1 win against Newport County followed by the game we now just refer to as Colchester. But the boy did good. Headers? Seemingly all won. Blocks? Plenty. Clearances? Many. Mistakes? Need to think about that one, none come to mind. Surprise stat? Only Jamie’s third start alongside Kyle McFadzean, a draw against promoted Port Vale and the 3-0 victory against Bromley last season being the others. Not at all bad for the 35 and 38-year-old combo.
Those three Fleetwood and Notts starters were amongst a phalanx of Man of the Match contenders in what was easily the most complete 90 minutes of the season for Paul Cook’s men. Everyone bar the almost redundant Zach Hemming was on the long shortlist.
Despite not creating oodles of chances in the game, Dylan Duffy and Ronan Darcy were, at times in the first half, untouchable, Ryan Stirk was just Ryan Stirk, and Lee Bonis popped up to bury the keeper’s parry from Darcy’s shot to give Town the lead. What a run of scoring form, nine in eleven.
Mandeville, sadly, will only be able to claim an assist for the second, a dangerous whipped in left wing corner which the yellow kitted Dutchman at the near post bundled over his own goal line; he didn’t spot the nature of the danger-Roos, a Kelle blow struck there and then. OG equal second in the scoring charts with four alongside (hopefully) soon to be back Dilan and Dobra.
The 90 featured just about everything a supporter wants to see; full house, noise, effort on the grass, clear when necessary, bodies on the line, take your chances, fight for every ball and look like you want it more than the opponents. No chance of the Magpies stealing anything from the SMH.
Top three back in our sights, a rapid re-match with Cambridge United on Monday night, where McFadzean’s last-gasp leveller earlier this month made me think we’d turned the corner. Neil Harris’s United are eight unbeaten in L2, three of those games won, and whilst difficult to beat, have picked up only 11 away points compared to the Spireites’ 22 home points banked to date. Cambridge drew 1-1 at Gillingham in a game that saw their keeper, ex-Spireite Jake Eastwood, save a penalty only for Gills to score from the resulting corner. Unlucky!
Notts travel to Milton Keynes on Monday in a key game at the top, whilst leaders Walsall host our opponents after next, Oldham Athletic, who lost their leading scorer, Michael Mellon, to what looked like a hamstring injury in their Boxing Day goalless draw at Grimsby Town. Ex-Chesterfield striker Mike Fondop will be suspended for both the Saddlers and Spireites games.
Chesterfield ended 2024 in tenth spot after a 2-1 defeat at Bradford City, they could go into 2026 in the top three, so if you can, get down to Whittington Moor on Monday night to see if Cookie’s charges can crush Cambridge, consequently completing cracking Christmas cheers! C U there for the game with CU.
Phil’s Positive: The most complete 90 minutes of the season, solid at the back, comfortable in the middle and waited patiently to take a chance up front. Very satisfying.
Next Match: Not long until Cambridge United are at the SMH Group Stadium, Monday, December 29 with a 7.45 kick-off (even though some fixture lists show 3pm). Listen to the build-up and After the Whistle on 1866 Sport from 7pm with commentary being on the subscription platform. Hear from Gary Roberts, Jamie Grimes, Tom Naylor and the injured Chey Dunkley in the After the Whistle podcast from after the Notts County win.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Hemming; Tanton, McFadzean, Grimes, Gordon; Naylor (Fleck 90+4), Stirk; Mandeville, Darcy (Berry 77), Duffy (Dickson 77); Bonis (Grigg 77). Subs (not used); Boot, Lewis, Daley-Campbell.
Goals: Bonis 65, Roos og 76 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Ben Speedie
Bookings: McFadzean, Grimes, Naylor (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 10,059 (1,024 from Notts)
1866 Sport Banner Jones Man of the Match: Jamie Grimes (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
