The Academicals travelled to Chesterfield Town in the knowledge that at least one 100% record was going to have gone by the end of 90 minutes. Sheffield never looked like relinquishing the record right from the kick-off.
Kicking down the hill the Accies started pressing early on and had a couple of chances, and a few corners in quick succession. Dan and Jamie played the short corner which opened up a big hole but Dan should have done better with the eventual cross. Brian had a shot saved and Daz fired wide after a sweeping counter attack. On ten minutes Jamie rolled his man and struck a good shot across the keeper and in but the referee made the first of numerous bizarre decisions and gave offside even though their flag happy linesman had kept his flag down for the first time of the afternoon. Batts and Reedy were marshalling their forward line really well, dominating in the air and anticipating the balls in behind superbly. Chesterfield had a decent forward and a busy looking midfielder so Stan and Hodgy out wide had to be aware also on a couple but snuffed out any danger before it reared its head. Reedy put in some great interceptions and kept calm under pressure which helped the game settle down.
The Chesterfield right back started running a commentary on how the Accies weren’t up for it and didn’t want it just as both Stan and Dan had put in crunching challenges to win the ball and Brian had nicked it off his toes a couple of times already. I heard Tony say “why is it always those that do nothing that have everything to say?” wise words as it turns out…… The goal had to come and Daz put Brian through on goal and he nicked it round the keeper, the ball bobbling back up to him and he rolled it into the empty net. Meanwhile their right-back had singled out Swifty with the words “that’s why you’re on the bench and I’m out here”. Not so wise words. The unlucky Jamie had to come off with a recurrence of his hamstring injury and Swifty came on up front. Dan and Chalky played a one-two and Dan put Brian in down the left channel, he squared to across for Swifty who smacked it into the roof of the net with his left foot and his first touch. No word from their right-back; who said nothing else for the remainder of his game and was taken off after an hour for a player who let the ball roll under his foot twice for his opening contributions.
Meanwhile the Accies continued to dominate. Hodgy and Daz linked up well down the right and released Brian again who ran on and smacked a shot against the bar. Si and Chalky were winning everything in midfield and Stan was getting forward well to support the attacks. The referee continued to make some bizarre decisions, managing to get virtually everything wrong and paying no attention to the linesmen. Against the run of play a ball into the left channel caught the Accies by surprise and their winger put in a great ball that their forward got a terrific head to which looped over Godwin to reduce the home side’s deficit. Good goal to be fair. One of the Chesterfield players was booked after a tangle with Dan left him to moan his way into the book. Summed up a poor half for the home side.
Half time Chesterfield 1 – 2 Accies
The second half began brightly for the Accies as Chesterfield immediately conceded possession from their kick-off and another good move up the right led to a shot from Swifty that the keeper parried away for a corner. The corner was met by Si but went just over. Brian continued to torment the home defence with some strong running and chance after chance came and went with some good blocking and goalkeeping the only thing keeping the score respectable. Ryan came on for Hodgy who had given another solid performance at right back. Batts and Reedy were shepherding every attack and using their full backs really well. A sliding tackle from Dan started another move up the left, he played it back to Stan who jinked round his man and knocked the ball up the line to Brian who played it first time out wide to the advancing Dan, he played it back first time into the space for Brian to run into which he duly did, leaving the defence for dead and rifling in a near post shot to make it 3-1 to the Accies.
The game was over as a contest although the home side did have a few half chances from corners. Godders pulled off a terrific save to his right when the ball looked in all the way from a firm strike after the ball had been bouncing around in the area. At the other end Brian hit the bar again with a curling shot and the follow up blazed just wide from Daz under pressure from their defender. Chalky won a terrific flick and Brian was in again, going round the keeper but taking an extra touch that sent him too wide to complete his hat-trick. Dan went off for the returning Matt G who got stuck in as usual and the game was seen out; with enough time for another wrong decision form the ref as the ball was smacked over his own bar by the Chesterfield centre half with everyone preparing for the corner, the linesman flagging for a corner but given as a goal kick….
Full time Chesterfield 1 -3 Academicals
