By John Taylor
After a quiet start to the month, Saturday 7th November brought the dreaded news that John Sheridan had won October's Coca Cola League 2 Manager of the Month award, which usually signals defeat in the next game. Given that said game was the FA Cup and added to the realisation that the opponents, Bournemouth, were to be the last visitors to Saltergate it seemed inevitable that we would lose, so that the Cherries would become the last FA Cup visitors to Saltergate as well. It did, of course, pan out that way as we turned in our usual dismal, lacklustre, characterless, pathetic and limp capitulation in the tournament for the traditional first round exit. Oddly enough, though, we got off to a fine start as Jack Lester headed a splendid opener, but the euphoria lasted just 4 minutes as Igoe equalised with a trickling shot after the defence seemingly went to sleep. Just before the half-hour, Connell put the visitors in front after some pin-ball in our box and we just never recovered. The injured Wade Small was replaced by Derek Niven at the break and Bournemouth went further ahead after 75 minutes with Connell again finding the net. Mark Little then got sent off for a second stupid foul, highlighting his inexperience. Lee made a fine save with a couple of minutes left and Steve Fletcher entered the arena in injury time just to get a round of applause; so ended Saltergate's less-than-illustrious FA Cup history.
Jack gave us the perfect start against the Cherries
The following Tuesday saw Carlisle United in town for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Former town loanee, Kevan Hurst was in their team following his move from Scunny. He got an undeserved negative reception from most town fans, though he was very generous in playing non-too-well for his current employers. The match will probably linger in the memory for an incident mid first half when Gregor Robertson ended up with a broken leg after a seemingly ordinary challenge. The level of activity around the incident indicated its seriousness and the subsequent addition of 9 minutes injury time was no surprise. Substitute Darren Currie put us ahead from the spot 4 minutes into that period after a foul on Boden. That was as good as it got on the night as the Cumbrians took their second half chances to win 3-1 whilst we failed to capitalise on a sustained period of pressure early in the half. So another chapter in Saltergate's history came to an end with the last ever cup tie: again a disappointing affair in keeping with the cup traditions of the place.
Before the trip to Spotland on the Saturday we learnt of the departure of Lloyd Kerry to Alfreton, seemingly never having recovered from the assault by Strevens at Dagenham last season. Rumours began to surface that we'd signed Iranian comic Omid Djalili, but it turned out to be a youth from Palace called Kieran Djilali and the youngster duly made his debut at a very damp Spotland. Despite the soggy conditions, the game started brightly with both sides intent on bringing the ball down and playing attacking football. Both keepers saw early action, but it was the home keeper, Heaton, who was first to be beaten as Lester scored on 25 minutes following headers won in the box by Page and Breckin. Three minutes later, we'd doubled the lead with the same scorer as Lee's long punt was flicked on to the Sheffielder who controlled well and advanced with assurance to score with aplomb. Two minutes later, Talbot should have made it 3, but he chose to pass to Small and the chance was gone. Dale then hit back and manager Keith Hill made 2 substitutions before the break to pep up his bewildered team.
Jack celebrates with Brecks at Spotland
Four minutes after the resumption, Dale pulled one back as O'Grady scored with a fine shot following a partially cleared corner. A further 3 minutes saw the home side back on level terms after a scramble from a corner with Dawson claiming the goal. At this point it looked like we'd be overrun, but somehow we steadied things and began to be seen as an attacking force again. Little struck the bar with a deflected effort off McArdle and a good move shortly afterwards saw David Perkins score against his former club with a well-directed shot into the bottom corner. The former Dale man's celebrations were respectfully subdued. The rest of the match saw the home side generally on the offensive, but our defence was well-disciplined and resolute and we saw the game out for an excellent win.
Before the next match, at home to bottom club, Darlington, Jordan Bowery moved on loan to the remote Furness peninsula, either with a view to building his experience or with a view to a permanent move, I know not. The Darlington fixture saw the team with the best home record against the team with the worst away record and no win at Saltergate since 1965 (except in the FA Cup). For once, though, Town didn't upset the form book and turned in an entertaining, if somewhat mixed, performance.
The early action saw the Quakers busily closing down our midfield and stifling any creativity except from the unusual source of Rob Page's raking cross-field balls to Djilali. Page even provided the crucial breakthrough, scoring from Perkins' corner in the 37th minute for his first real goal for us, since an own goal whilst playing for Watford is stretching a point. Mark Allott extended the lead right on the stroke of half time with a beautifully struck volley right into the bottom corner. It wasn't to be a match with a clean-sheet, though, as Town's generous defence presented a gift of a goal to substitute Collins from 35 yards. Lee was forced into defending well out of his box, but couldn't hack the ball clear. It fell to Collins who forced it over the slowly retreating defence for a frustrating concession. A dodgy few minutes followed as confidence flowed through the Darlo team and they mounted several threatening attacks. Town showed some resolve, however, and the pacy Djilali broke clear on the left and fired past Liversedge for his first senior goal to restore our 2 goal advantage. That was by no means the end of the entertainment however, as Tommy Lee made a cracking save on 72 minutes to deny Thomas then Small and Perkins were replaced by Boden and Niven to give us some fresh impetus on the heavy surface. Sloppy defending with 3 minutes left allowed Hogg to net his first ever goal and set Spireite fans nerves on edge. We needn't have worried though with young Boden netting twice before the end of injury time to give the scoreline the margin that we deserved.
Kieron Djilali celebrates netting his first League goal against the Quakers
The performance gained Boden, Allott and Page recognition in Coca Cola League 2 team of the week.
The final action of the month was at Gigg Lane against an unpredictable, but difficult to beat, Shakers outfit sporting a freaky chocolate and sky blue halved outfit to commemorate 125 years. The evening was foul with torrential rain and a strong wind not conducive to good football. The only notable action of a dull first half was the injury to Bury's Cresswell who almost scored an own goal in the process. The second period saw the home side take the lead on 56 minutes as Newey found acres of space on the left and Morrell headed in as Lee misjudged the cross. With 20 minutes left, the veteran hit his second, pouncing on a parry from Lee as the defence was found wanting again. Our last minute consolation was not really deserved as the performance was at best lacklustre on a night that demanded big hearts and commitment. Bury had this in the second half, but we appeared not to fancy it on the night, Talbot excluded, though he was in the game too little to make a telling impact. The 2 substitutes, Niven and Boden also looked keen, but with under 20 minutes of action had too little time to turn things round.
A late Wade Small goal left the Shakers hanging on but it was to little to late for the Spireites
So, with the traditional blank Saturday that is FA Cup round 2 day, playing matters ended early in the month. Loan activity continued, however, with Mark Little's loan extended to January whilst Darren Currie disappeared for at least 6 weeks in the direction of Dagenham & Redbridge. Two days after Bury, Paul Harsley and Danny Hall went north to Darlington whilst Ian Morris appeared from Scunthorpe and Davide Somma (an exotic type much appreciated by the ladies) arrived from Leeds. Both of the arrivals are supposedly 6ft 1, so hopefully we might win some headers in the opponents' penalty areas. This sort of transfer movement has to be encouraging as it indicates that Mr Sheridan is serious in improving things to move us on from our current play-off berth. This could be helped by competition from a certain Aaron Downes, now uninjured and trying to get match fit. Other off-field activity focused on the new B2Net Stadium, where progress appears to be being made and reports indicate we're 2 ½ weeks ahead of schedule.
Away from the first team, the youth team suffered in the youth FA Cup going down at Northampton in unexpected fashion: they probably thought they were the first team. Their response was to beat Rotherham and Darlington, so that's a great reaction from Mr Bentley's charges.
All that's left is to determine the highlight of November and we've a few candidates as usual: Tommy Lee's magic save against Darlington, Allott's belter also in that match, Rob Page's magnificent cross-field balls to Djilali in the same game, Lester's brace at Spotland and Boden's against the Quakers all are in contention. The one that does it for me, though, is David Perkin's measured winner in the rain at Rochdale; an assured finish and a rare event-when did we last win after throwing away a 2-goal lead? I don't know without some delving and it's certainly rare enough to be a real highlight of any month.
