Tooley’s Take
Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Notts County 0 Chesterfield 0
League Two Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg
Our season in two play-off games. Great chance, not taken, individual error, goal conceded. The first leg was our undoing, and despite being the better side for the second leg, County’s defence was able to do enough to snuff out our efforts.
It’s no consolation to Spireites supporters that our opponents created very little over the 180 minutes of the two games because they found a way, not a typical Notts County way, to win the tie. Reminded me of the job Walsall did a year earlier. Tough, happy without the ball, no punches pulled, target individuals and defend solidly.
Town did more than enough to get on the scoreboard in the second leg, in the area of the park up to the edge of the penalty box. Eight corners to three, a huge 37 crosses into the danger zone, a dozen shots. Corners, most of them lacked quality, crosses, most of them either caught by the keeper or headed out by one of their back three, shots, most of them either straight at the keeper or wide, all of the ones at the keeper were all less than bullet speed. Keeper James Belshaw did what he needed to do, which sadly wasn’t enough.
We could debate referees for 90 minutes and still need extra time. Some early rough stuff, no cards, another player forced off before half-time, no card. Our bench was apoplectic. Kyle McFadzean’s yellow was right, but it was about the ninth worst tackle of then night up to that point. Time wasting told to stop in the first-half, plenty more, no cards until a late one for kicking the ball away. Sub ref on after what looked like a hammy, Town corner, two on the deck at a time we were really pressing, pretty sure it wasn’t in the official’s sight line, Notts foul given nevertheless.
I’m not saying it was a penalty, far from it, it may well have been a Notts free-kick, but I am pretty sure it was beyond the peripheral vision of the ref and the free-kick concludedour time in the danger zone. Just frustrating. Sour grapes? Maybe, but we’ve had no luck or protection all season in that department.
The one real positive to take from the disappointing play-off campaign is that Notts County, second highest scorers in the table, were restricted to six shots, two on target, over the two legs. After a first half of the season where concessions were the main undoing, the defensive side of the team’s game has improved significantly and looks as robust as any in the section, but during those two games, our creative side was all but nullified.
Our hold up play was disappointing, the running at the defence was there, but far too often the lay-off ball wasn’t, and the decision making when in the vicinity of the ‘D’ or the edge of the box was flawed.
But, over the course of the season as a whole, the team has become difficult to beat, Chesterfield lost nine games in the regular season, fellow play-off teams Salford lost 15, Notts 14 and Grimsby 12, it’s been the draws, particularly the 21 points lost after leading, that has been the team’s undoing. More than half of those lost points came at home, so a few lessons in game management probably needed before August.
This season has seen a sixth straight ‘play-offs or better’ run, the first run of that length in the history of the play-offs in the National element of the pyramid and, with more points and a higher place than a year ago, the sustained year on year improvement has continued, a remarkable achievement and a fantastic platform for next season.
The objective of the season has not been achieved for sure. The most reliable sources show The Spireites had the section’s fifth highest budget, less than promoted MK Dons and Cambridge United as well as play-off finalists Salford City, so finishing sixth was about par, but regular watchers will know that, on our day, no-one can live with Paul Cook’s team. Trouble was, ‘our days’ didn’t click into place often enough.
The Gaffer will lose a number of players now, the loanees will go back home, but clubs like Villa, Leicester and The Blades will recognise that their men have improved as footballers and their next wave of promising players will undoubtedly be offered to Paul Cook, who will also, I’m sure, be reviewing the age profile in the squad.
For me, our opponents that have had the edge on us have all had an enforcer, a midfield general who’s tough and uncompromising, a first Cook spell Sam Morsy for example. That’s an area where most of my favourite Spireites over the years have resided, Ray McHale, Danny Wilson, Derek Niven plus Sam of course.
We’ll all have our thoughts on who we’d like to recruit before we start again, plenty of debates over a pint to be had, but what we have got is a solid club, good decision makers and a manager who knows how to win football matches, we just want him to learn a bit about how not to draw quite as many!
Chesterfield Football Club is in a very, very good place. Bring on The Millers!
Phil’s Positive: We’ll make it next season!
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Donacien (Curtis 62), McFadzean, Swinkels, Gordon; Braybrooke, Stirk (Fleck 41);Markanday, Naylor (Duffy 72), Berry (Mandeville 72); Bonis(Grigg 72). Subs (not used); Hemming, Pearce.
Referee: Tom Parsons (Ollie Yates 85)
Bookings: McFadzean (Chesterfield), Grant (Notts)
Attendance: 17224 (1988 from Chesterfield)
