Chesterfield make two changes to the side which lost at Brentford on Saturday. Jamie Ward drops to the bench to be replaced by Steve Fletcher and Loanee Michael Barnes makes his full League Debut. Phil Picken makes a welcome return after a hand injury but can only make the bench as another loanee Brendon Moloney keeps his place at right back. Glen Murray comes back into the Rochdale side who had only lost one game away from home prior to tonights match on the opening day of the season.
The Spireites kicked off towards the Cross Street end with intent on their minds, a Lester turn in the box wins a corner in the first minute.
Michael Barnes showed us the electric pace we have all been reading about when he tormented his marker on left inside the first five. Jack Lester gets the ball in the box and passes to Fletcher who shoots but Dale clear.
Great link up play between Niven and Lowry release Moloney to surge forward down the right and his cross is met by Fletcher who heads over.
On 15 mins a foul on Lester near the corner flag presents the Spireites with a free kick taken by Leven who finds Kovacs in the box and he heads over also.
Out of nowhere a Dale salvo ends in a goal, a lovely through ball by Higginbotham finds Perkins who sells Downes a dummy and fires a shot past Roche on 18. The Spireite players seem to go into shock somewhat dumbfounded that Dale have scored.
On 23 minutes Lester brings the ball down well In area in front of two defenders and goes down looking for the penalty but nothing given.
27 minutes gone and Moloney wins the ball In the midfield area and releases Lester who's shot is blocked. On the 29 Higginbotham is somewhat bemused after the referee pulls play back for an advantage to Dale after the midfielder had made his way into the Area.
Rochdale now up their tempo and a cross by captain Gary Jones eludes everyone at the back post including its intended target of Murray. Robertson goes down under a challenge and requires treatment but no need for a change.
On 38 mins Rochdale double their advantage, Perkins beats Downes on the byline and fires a left footed shot past Roche. Straight away Barnes tries his luck from 25 yards but the effort goes over the bar.
43 minutes gone and Lester brings the ball down superbly well to tee up Leven and his shot is pushed around the post by Russell.
HT: Spireites 0-2 Rochdale
The Second half begins with the Blues attacking the Kop, on 46 a Niven flick finds Lester and his header is pushed around the post by Russell as the Spireites go forward after the assumed rollocking from the Boss. Within seconds we are back in it, a lovely run by Barnes results in a corner taken by Jamie Lowry and he cross is met by Downes to head into the net, it's the Aussies second goal of the season and both from direct corners.
On 51 a long ball catches the defence knapping and Le Fondre nips in to take the ball past Roche and he tried to side foot it for Murray to score but the former Carlisle man misses and the ball gets cleared. The Kop come alive as we try to get back into the match.
Dangerously Rochdale again attack down the left hand side with Higginbotham and he cuts in from the left and the ball gets a deflection with Roche stranded but he bal goes for a corner. Lowry is replaced by Ward and Barnes swaps over to the right and the former Torquay plays on the left.
59 mins gone and we are back in it, a long clearance by Roche finds Fletcher who's eft header plays in Lester and he shoots the ball gets a deflection and loops in. 2-2!!
On 64 minutes sub for Rochdale, Ben Muirhead replaces Le Fondre. 68 minutes and a booking each for Stanton and Lester afte something was said.
68 minutes gone and Ward plays in Lester who shoots from twenty yards but wide, Ward was expecting the return it appears.
72 minutes and a low free kick finds Lester at the back post his return can't quite make it to Barnes. On 74 minutes the Man Utd loanee is replaced by Adam Rooney.
Almost joy as Fletcher heads on for Lester and he scores only to see a flag raised o nthe far side.
79 minutes gone and Phil Picken comes on for Moloney who receives a generous round of applause. Dale look to break with Muirhead but his pass cannot find a Higginbotham.
Dale make a sub on 82 Rundle replaces Doolan, lovely chipped ball from Leven almost plays in Ward and he wins a corner. Then the killer moment, Perkins finds the ball some 18 yards out and fires a low shot past Roche for a deserved hat-trick.
Three minutes later it really is game over, a lovely through ball from Jones to Murray, he slips the ball past Downes and Roche and slots home, cue delirious scenes in the Dale dugout.
The Fourth official brings up four minutes on the board and the Spireites push on hoping for scraps. They get one, Robertson forces a corner and with a Rooney header Russell makes a save against the bar and Lester follows In to make sure. The goal eventually is credited to Lester after being wrongly awarded by the media in attendanc on the night to Rooney.
In the dying moments the Spireites win another corner and Robertson wins the header goalbound only for Muirhead to clear off the line and that's it.
The first half we might as well write off, after a ten minute performance the opposition score from nowhere, something which may have been written before and to compound our woes they go and score another classy finish.
Second Half we upped the tempo and got ourselves back into the game with acres of time left but it's too our credit I suppose that we pushed on for the winner too much and were caught napping when it mattered. Our attempt to get the most out of this match is creditable but our young charges are again being taught vital lessons by other sides In that we cannot switch off for a second, you do and you get punished. The manager has stated in the past week or so that experience is vital and he is looking to bring someone in, hopefully this will be the case and you would rather have it sooner than later otherwise our youthful side may start to look a little raggy.
By Paul Fisher
