By John Taylor

December began with the last scheduled floodlit first team match at Saltergate against Crewe Alexandra. Town's side had an unfamiliar look to it with the inclusion of new loanees, Davide Somma from Leeds and Ian Morris from Scunthorpe. This meant the side contained 5 loan players with Kieran Djilali, David Perkins and Mark Little all in the side. It speaks volumes for the state of the modern day game with the ludicrous transfer windows and the massive concentration of funds at the few top clubs, both of which force small clubs to exploit this loan business.

Two more new faces arrived on loan Davide Somma and Ian Morris

The game began in lively fashion and Somma had an early opportunity to make his mark (as well as being our 1000^th debutant) as Lester was brought down in the box for a 7^th minute penalty. Unfortunately, Somma's effort was weak and Phillips saved with ease. After a few near misses at the home end, Lester again was felled in the box for our second penalty of the night. Wade Small stepped up to make a hash of this one as Phillips saved again. Crewe soon punished us as Grant waltzed through an admiring defence to set up Donaldson to score. Five minutes later and it was 2 as Breckin conceded a free-kick, 20 yards out and Westwood scored with an accomplished finish. Lester hit the woodwork before the break, but half-time came with no further addition to the score. After the break we looked more lively, but with no instant reward, so Mr Sheridan sent on Boden and Talbot for Small and Somma. With 18 minutes left Talbot scored after Breckin hit the bar and a draw was looking a possibility. With 6 minutes left though, it was all over as an Alex break saw Donaldson find Murphy who beat Lee with ease to make it 3-1. Despite Lester reducing the arrears, we didn't threaten to equalise even with 5 minutes added on by the officials. So, we've never gone a season at Saltergate unbeaten in the league.

Saturday saw a trip to the other Recreation ground (now known as the EBB Stadium) where we are traditionally rubbish. The game was massively frustrating as we proved to be easily the better side in terms of football but contrived to lose by a combination of inept finishing, brilliant goalkeeping and a piece of traditional defensive dozing. Notable in all this was a great first half run by Morris, who looked certain to score but wouldn't trust his right foot so made an awkward left footed attempt which keeper Ruez saved with ease. Lester hit a post on 40 minutes after numerous ineffective corners and Lee made several decent stops to thwart the Aldershot attack. The game's only goal came from a left wing corner on 68 minutes when Charles rose unchallenged to head in without much power after the hosts had never really looked like scoring. Substitute Somma put in a great header bringing a magnificent save from Ruez and David Perkins ran through to hit the post after a great move. It was that sort of day-we had 57% of the possession and still managed to lose. The only real positive of the day was the return of Aaron Downes to the bench after his lengthy injury layoff.

Perks hit a post at the other Rec

A week later, managerless Cheltenham were in North Derbyshire for what was a "must-win" game for us after 3 defeats. The team selection was a bit of a surprise with Mark Crossley included for his home debut and Picken in for Talbot. We started very brightly and had the Robins' defence under considerable pressure for long periods, but were unable to fashion a clear-cut opening. The visitors, on the other hand, in their rare forays, troubled Crossley not at all. Just when it appeared our pressure wouldn't succeed, a third corner on the trot saw Jack Lester stoop to head in at the near post for, unbelievably, our first headed league goal in exactly a year. This was on 42 minutes and we went in at the break slightly frustrated at being just a goal to the good following such overwhelming dominance. The second period did not follow in the same vein as much of our fluency disappeared to be replaced by rather disjointed and tentative football. That said, the Robins troubled us just once when on 78 minutes, Lewis produced a long-range shot which Crossley stopped well diving to his right. Substitute Boden almost gave us a rare 2-0 win, but keeper Brown pulled off a fine save to deny him in injury time.

Jack on target ahainst the Robins

Fast forward 7 days and the game at Port Vale was postponed owing to a frozen pitch; indeed only Rochdale's clash with Shrewsbury Town survived in league 2. So the next action was on Boxing Day at Sincil Bank, where the hosts, under new manager Chris Sutton, were struggling severely and hovering just above the drop zone. We were perfect visitors then as we squandered numerous early chances then presented the hosts with 2 soft goals when we were looking comfortable. The first on 25 minutes came when the midfield omitted to pressure the Imps who worked the ball out wide right for a speculative first time ball into the box. Little failed to be aware of Hughton behind him and the Lincoln man stooped to guide a bouncing header beyond Crossley. Four minutes later and the hosts scored their first second goal in 16 matches as the excellent Facey beat Breckin to head in from the edge of the box with a looping effort. Town tried to get back into the game with Djilali prominent in the proceedings and the best chance fell to Small who shrank from the header and missed when he saw the bulk of keeper Burch leaping at him. Lester hit the woodwork just before the break and we trooped in 2-0 down much to the annoyance of the 1200 Spireites in the crowd.

Mr Sheridan subbed the unfortunate Austin for Talbot at the break and moved Morris, who'd had a nightmare in the first half in midfield, into Austin's left back position. On 58 minutes a further substitution was made as young Scott Boden replaced the abysmal Wade Small. With 25 minutes to go, Talbot was sent clear through the inside right channel only to be felled cynically by Heath. For some reason, however, fouls on Drew Talbot seem to be highly tolerated by referees, so Heath saw only yellow. With 7 minutes left, Boden scores a typical strikers goal with a clinical finish giving us hope of snatching a point. A few minutes later and Talbot was sent clear into the box only to be felled by 2 Imps defenders. Obviously it wasn't a goalscoring opportunity as there was again no red card. Much Lincoln gamesmanship took place, delaying Lester's penalty and this amazingly seemed to put off the experienced Sheffielder who ballooned his shot high and wide for our 4^th successive penalty miss. Scott Kerr's instant aggressive in-your-face mockery of Lester didn't provoke the intended retaliation, so at least one piece of Lincoln cynicism failed on the day. But again we lost on our travels to a side whose only weapons appeared to be hard work and cynical professionalism against our undoubted skill but lack of application and endeavour. This has to change as it appears we can only get ourselves revved-up away from home against the top sides.

Scott Boden gave the Spireites a lifeline at Sincil Bank

The early kick-off Bank Holiday Monday game against Rotherham at Saltergate was surprisingly postponed owing to some frost in a couple of areas of the pitch causing considerable frustration to management and fans alike. An afternoon in the pub was no compensation.

So, the on-field action proved massively frustrating in the month with 3 defeats and a single victory whilst 2 games were postponed-not a good festive season for us Spireites. We still finished the month and the year in a play-off spot, but you can't help thinking that our position should be much better. We continue to make the same mistakes, especially away from home and continue to concede goals in the air whilst posing little aerial threat ourselves. It is to be hoped that the return of Aaron Downes will help the defence and that the nonsense that is the January transfer window will provide some signings to bolster the squad. If so, I think it likely to be players we already have on loan in the main.

Off the field, things seem to be developing nicely with the new stadium, still ahead of plan and shaping up well. The main stand, it was announced in the month, is to be sponsored by HTM who are a kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms outfit whose profile is becoming increasingly prominent. The players did their charitable bit just before Christmas visiting children in the hospital and spreading a bit of joy where it was much needed. Morris and Djalili both had their loans extended whilst young keeper Matt Malak was sent out to Loughborough University FC for a month's loan. Of some surprise was the announcement of a new Chief Executive for the club in the form of Carol Wilby. This is obviously a new departure for the club and Carol's task will clearly be a challenging one as we make the transition to our new home and attempt to move forward commercially and administratively. I don't think she'll have much influence on the anticipated progression football-wise though.

All that remains is to pick out the highlight of the month and that's not hard given the grim nature of it. From a shortlist of one it has to be Jack Lester's headed goal against Cheltenham Town. Now let's look forward to a more positive year in 2010. Bring on the Shrews!