SpireitesTV Commentator Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context.
Chesterfield 1-1 Port Vale
Chesterfield secure a bonus point 4-3 on penalties, taking two points in total.
Jersey Mike’s Trophy, Northern Group D, Match #2
For two teams only 35 crow-flying miles apart, it was a surprise that this was only the second coming together of these rivals in this newly named Jersey Mike’s Trophy. Back in 2002, the game at Vale Park ended 1-1 and the home side won the penalty shoot-out. Our turn then, on Derbyshire Day.
You never quite know what you’re going to get on the day in this competition. Vale, who are without a League game on the next two Saturdays due to the international break, picked ten outfield players with 33 L1 starts between them this season; Paul Cook’s ten outfielders in blue, six League starts, four of them from Liam Mandeville.
The visitors, pound for pound, were undoubtedly closer to their first eleven at the 7pm kick-off time, especially as two of their first time starters, Jasper Moon and Max Watters, were experienced summer signings expected to be in the team, but they were coming into the fray after injuries.
Up top was a Cuban International with over 200 Championship games and two Championship titles, 26 appearances in the Premier League, all with Norwich City, who brought him to England from Germany for £2m, Onel Fernandez, alongside Watters, for whom Cardiff City paid £1m five years ago; he scored three goals in the Europa Conference League for Dundee United last season, with whom he helped beat SPL Champions Celtic, twice. Vale were no mugs.
To be fair, The Valiants started the stronger of the two teams but they failed to convert their opening 45 superiority into excessive scoreboard action. Their only pre-interval goal came after some loose Chesterfield play adjacent to the centre circle which enabled Hernandez to get in a shot and break the deadlock.
Vale had easier chances than the goal in the first half, but squandered them, hitting high, wide and when one was on target, Alfie Pond back-tracked to stop it rolling in. Joel Randall had Chesterfield’s best chance ahead of the Vale goal, but his effort was well blocked by keeper Marko Marosi, a L1 winner with Coventry City.
Before the game started, it looked like Chesterfield had the stronger bench, and that helped Paul Cook’s side no end. Alex Whitney came on for the second half for the injured Pond, who may need a scan, and the Chesterfield gaffer rearranged his side, switching to three at the back plus wing-backs, and with 65 played, he brought on Dylan Duffy, Will Grigg and Louie Marsh, not a bad trio in any game.
Marsh was soon into the action, stroking home after a Kiano Dyer pass, all square on the night, all of the indications being that Spireites were in the ascendancy. However, Vale defended well and always looked threatening on the break, but neither side could find a way through so it was time for a penalty competition to decide where the bonus point would end up.
George Hall, zero career penalties and back in blue Will Grigg, 28 successful 12 yarders, made it 1-1 in the shoot-out before ex-Vale keeper Ryan Boot denied Maleace Asamoah, one previous pen, successful for Shamrock Rovers, and the only one of Vale’s five takers to have stepped up for a pen in anger in ‘real-time’ before.
The next four all went in before Connor Cook was denied, he’d scored three from three in shoot-outs in this competition before, and then Boot made it advantage Chesterfield again, saving from Cameron Humphreys. That left back–in–the–fold Duffy to step up. He wanted penalty No.4 as he felt it may not get to a fifth, and he made no mistake to confirm the bonus point was staying in Chesterfield.
Five points from two games; Man City have three from two, Vale one from one and Mansfield Town none from one. Our final round-robin game at Field Mill is the last fixture of the group, so we’ll all know exactly what’s needed to qualify or top the group, which guarantees a home tie in the next phase.
Back to L2 action on Saturday, at Cheltenham Town. Steve Cotterill’s outfit are three places and one point above The Spireites. They won a midweek bonus point after a 2-2 home draw with Exeter City, George Miller earned the shoot-out with a late equaliser, from the spot, and their five L2 games prior to hat spawned two wins and three draws.
Summer signing from relegated Barrow, Charlie McCann, has started the season well, bagging six goals to date, whilst experienced former Austrian International striker Andreas Weimann, who’s played over 500 games in the Championship or Premier League, has scored three. Despite Chesterfield’s excellent record against The Robins (W12 D5 L3), this season’s Cheltenham look a tough opponent.
Join me and Ben Smith from 2pm, plus After the Whistle, both free via the club website, sandwiching the subscription commentary and streaming platform. Unbeaten in six in all competitions, it would be magnificent to make it seven.
Phil’s Positive: Having Duffy back in action plus great stuff from Whitney, Dyer and Eccleston in particular.
Chesterfield (4–2–3-1 to start): Boot; Eccleston, Pond (Whitney 46), Dunkley, Pearce (Duffy 65); Lamptey, Dyer; Mandeville, Naylor (Cook 82), Randall (Marsh 65); Bryden (Grigg 65). Subs (not used): Simpson, Hutton.
Goals: Marsh 69 (Chesterfield), Hernandez 39 (Port Vale)
Penalties (Vale started): G.Hall scored, Grigg scored, Asamoah saved, Marsh scored, Headley scored, Mandeville scored, Walters scored, Cook saved, Humphreys saved, Duffy scored.
Referee: Richie Watkins
Bookings: Gabriel, McGowan (Port Vale)
Attendance: 1319 (201 from Port Vale)
Spireites TV Man of the Match: Junior Eccleston (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
