By John Taylor

The month began with league leaders, Rochdale in town looking to keep their run going and hoping to achieve promotion for only the second time in their history. The visitors appeared in an unusual purple outfit with white sleeves whilst Town saw numerous team changes including Kevin Austin in central defence in place of Rob Page.

Dale began the better of the sides, but Town worked hard and prevented any serious threat to former Dale man Tommy Lee's goal until just after the half hour when Picken was on hand to clear off the line, though in truth he knew little of it. The incident seemed to fire Town up with new-found confidence and we went in at the break goalless but with some belief. This was strengthened just after the resumption when we actually won a corner after 2 ½ matches without one. It didn't create a goal, though. What should have created a goal later in the half caused massive annoyance as Conlon was put through just inside the Dale half only to be flagged offside despite a Dale defender sitting on the floor on the edge of his own area. The natives got restless with this as it seemed that the footballing gods were conspiring against us again. Shortly afterwards the same linesman flagged for a penalty as Stanton got in the way of Demontagnac's cross, seemingly with his arm. Conlon duly despatched the penalty kick to give us a deserved lead. Lee then made a brilliant save from O'Grady to preserve the lead and 9 minutes from time we extended that as McArdle upended Demontagnac in the box to earn our second spot-kick. Conlon did the trick again, though in more emphatic style. We held on without concession for a rare 2-0 victory; our first since December 2007.

Two from the spot for Barry againt Dale

Two days later, we were at the venue of said victory; Barnet. There was to be no repeat, however, as we meekly succumbed to a Bees side short of goals and confidence. The Spireites, clad unusually in all blue, took the lead through Small, though the linesman appeared to want to disallow the effort, but we failed to capitalise as we couldn't keep the ball, tackle or pass to a team-mate. The home side ran in 3 goals down the slope as the shambolic defence watched as Furlong (twice) and Hyde scored without significant challenge. We were fortunate not to concede again in the second half as Austin conceded a penalty, but Lee brilliantly saved Furlong's penalty to deny the ancient striker a hat-trick. It served him right for wearing gloves-a player of his experience should know better. Town had a couple of late, semi-serious efforts, but the players looked like they had no belief that we could pull the thing back and we trooped off to deserved boos and we all felt demoralised at such a gutless, sorry showing.

Wade gave the Spireites a perfect start then the wheels fell off at Underhill

The visit of Dagenham & Redbridge to Saltergate on the following Saturday saw the welcome return of Jack Lester to the starting lineup for the first time since January. Hall also returned for Picken and Austin moved to left-back. A fairly even first half tipped the Daggers' way when Mark Allott conceded a ludicrous penalty, pushing Nurse over as the Daggers' defender stopped running in our box. Green scored with ease from the spot. Town's heads dropped somewhat after this and we were fortunate to survive when Scott hit the post and Green knocked the rebound over. We rallied somewhat after this and ended the first period strongly, but without tangible reward as Lester struck the Daggers' bar.

The resumption saw the visitors on the attack and within 4 minutes Benson had the ball in our net, but the effort was disallowed for offside. Our relief was short-lived, however, as we conceded a free-kick 30-yards out as Hall was harshly penalised. Green then scored a wonder goal as he stepped up and hammered the ball into the top corner of Lee's net, giving the Yorkshireman no chance. It was a goal of remarkable quality and so unexpected as most players would not even have tried a shot from that distance. Mr Sheridan soon mixed things up by bringing on Conlon and Boshell for Niven and Rundle. The big man's presence caused the Londoners some defensive difficulties and we found a way back into the match with 68 minutes gone as Demontagnac scored after the visitors failed to clear effectively. With 5 minutes to go, the Daggers should have wrapped it up as our defence was undone, but Vincelot dragged hit effort wide. The Daggers soon paid for it as Allott was upended in the box to give us another penalty with 2 minutes to go. Conlon's spot kick was unerring and we were level. Either side could have won it after that, but both failed and a share of the spoils was the end result.

The following Tuesday saw us in Cleethorpes for the game against relegation-threatened Grimsby Town. The manager rang the changes again, dropping Hall, Austin, Rundle and Small with Goodall, Page, Boden and Bowery included. Bowery's inclusion for his debut was a major surprise as it is unusual to give a youngster such responsibility in a struggling side. The home side were clearly up for the challenge and were quickest out of the blocks. Coulson hit the post with a free-kick and the Mariners won a succession of corners as the sizeable away following started to become very agitated. We then started to play a little and after a few minutes of pressing around the home box, we lost possession in midfield and suddenly Wright was in acres of space on the edge of our box and his cross-shot found the net off Lee's right boot. The Mariners upped the pace again and looked dangerous whilst our only threat came from Lester, who forced Colgan into a fine save just before the break.

Happy Jack helped the Spireites fight back for a point in Cleethorpes

Eleven minutes after the resumption, the home side extended their advantage as Akpro netted from close in following sustained pressure. The home fans were in good voice at this point whilst Spireite fans were venting their frustrations on the less-than-popular Mr Sheridan. The under-fine manager then acted, bringing on 2 ex-Mariners in Boshell and Gritton for Niven and Boden. The introduction of Gritton was both a surprise and a master-stroke as the Glaswegian played like a man possessed and turned the game our way. With 65 minutes gone, he won the ball, held it up and played it wide to Demontagnac on the left. The loanee then advanced down the wing and whipped in an early cross for Lester to convert with an excellent glancing header into the corner of the net. Ten minutes later we were level after much pressing when ex-Grimsby hero, Lester struck again from close range as the home defence failed to clear a corner.

Three minutes later and Grimsby should have retaken the lead as our defence went missing and Akpro waltzed through with ease and rounded Lee for a certain goal. Somehow, though, he found the side netting, not the goal and the home fans groans could probably be heard in Scunthorpe. Both sides went all-out for a winner and challenges got a little ragged and the ref's yellow card became over-worked. Lee pulled off another last-gasp save to keep the Mariners at bay and the encounter finished level. The post-match atmosphere was very subdued with Spireite fans dissatisfied with a point against a relegation-threatened side whilst the Mariners knew they'd squandered 2 precious points, giving them only slender hopes of survival. Much shaking of heads by black and white clad supporters was observed.

Moss Rose was next on the agenda for our final game of the season in the red away kit in a game kicking off at 3.30 owing to some event of no interest up the road in Manchester. Given our customary dire performances at the Cheshire venue, hopes were not high of a positive result and we were justified in our expectations. The resulting display was disgracefully lacking in fight and passion as we meekly surrendered to a hard-working but ordinary Silkmen outfit by 2 goals to nil on the customary rock-hard, bobbly pitch. The first goal came from a Sinclair tap-in from 3 yards out as a weak, bobbling cross-shot found its way past 5 Spireite defenders and Bowery's wild swipe for the simplest of conversions. Six minutes later came the second after good work on the right saw a low cross delivered which eluded the defence and Lee's attempted intervention. Mukendi had the simple task of netting at the back post. We did muster one attack as the half came to a close with Kevin Austin forcing Brain into a decent save.

Half time saw Page on for the ineffective Goodall and after 7 minutes of the second period, we knew there was no way back as Lester set up Bowery and the youngsters' scuffed effort clearly crossed the line before the tumbling Morgan cleared in slow motion. The well-placed ref decided to check with the linesman before making a decision, but the flag-carrier couldn't see as he was looking into the sun, so we were denied a clear goal. Brain then pulled off a wonder save to deny Lester and the game then meandered to a miserable conclusion in the Cheshire sunshine, leaving us outside the play-off spots and the season looking like it was heading for a last-day wake at Saltergate rather than any kind of celebration.

Ishy on target again against the Bantams

The final action of the month saw Bradford City in town and our side saw 6 changes from that at Macclesfield. We looked more solid than of late in the first period following these changes whilst the visitors looked reasonably lively, but with little cutting edge. The half ended goalless. Six minutes into the second period, we took the lead as Demontagnac capitalised on hesitant defending, rounded the keeper and netted with aplomb. We desperately needed a second to secure the victory, but it didn't materialise and we were to be punished, despite looking pretty comfortable for long periods. The turning point was on 71 minutes when the recently-introduced Omar Daley smacked Dan Gray in the face for no reason other than he doesn't like opponents and was instantly red-carded. Manager Peter Taylor looked understandably furious at the brainless action. Four minutes from this and we presented the Bantams with an equaliser. Allott dwelt too long on the ball in midfield then hurriedly over-hit a pass back to Hall. The defender had to deal with the ball straight away and skewed it out whilst aiming for Picken. The visitors took the throw quickly with Hall and Picken out of position and Evans advanced into the box to beat Lee. We never looked like regaining the lead after this and Mr Sheridan was subjected to some angry, though not abusive, comments from the centre stand faithful at the final whistle and he did not react well, adding to his growing reputation as a man who enjoys to be unpopular.

So, one win in the month saw us slip out of the play-off places and realistically needing to win our last 2 games to have any hope of making the cut. Given that it's taken us 2 months to get our last 2 wins and that we're playing abysmally, that looks a pretty improbable outcome. Even the youngsters let us down in terms of result, but not in performance and effort, losing the final floodlit game at Saltergate in the Midland Youth Cup to a very strong Shrewsbury Town side by 3-1 in front of a crowd of just under 400, hugely above the norm for such a game.

Off-field activity continued to revolve around progress at the new stadium and preparations for the end of Saltergate. Bomber Williams, hero of the mid-nineties team paid a visit to the old ground and a Town fan chanting racist nonsense was banned after the Bradford City game. Talking of nonsense, with 3 games to go at Saltergate, new parking restrictions have been introduced in the streets around the ground necessitating expenditure on signage and revised road markings. What is the point, since once the ground has gone, the demand for on-street parking around the place in not likely to be high. The world has gone mad.