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Pools Youth's 2 Spireites 3

Posted on: Mon 19 Jan 2009

With 2009 not starting the way Dave Bentley and his side would have hoped, a defeat at home on the opening game of the new year against Scunthorpe United and last weeks clash against Lincoln City called off, the Spireites knew they had to pick it up a gear in order to regain the level of football they had produced in the first half of the season.

Striker Jordan Bowery found himself returning to the squad after spending the Christmas period with the first team while goalkeeper Matthew Malak went the opposite direction and travelled with Lee Richarson's men on their away trip to Chester.

Chesterfield found themselves a goal down just after eight minutes of play. Adam Smith lost his man from a free kick which resulted in a header across goal finding a Hartlepool striker who managed to shoot under the body of Under 16's goalkeeper Tom Turner.

Things went from bad to worse for the visiting side after some good play,. The Spireites conceded a penalty when Turner and Alexander Moller made a mistake at the back causing a collision with the Hartlepool striker. The referee had no choice but to award the home side a penalty who didn't throw away the chance of making it 2-0.

Half Time Hartlepool 2 Chesterfield 0

Chesterfield knew that in order to rescue anything from the game they needed to play the kind of football which they are capable of playing. The second half got off to a good start for Chesterfield when a Hartlepool defender sliced the ball into his own net from a Jimmy Adcock corner.

Adcock again was involved in some good play and this time managed to make another attack on goal count when his shot across the goalkeeper found the back of the net to level the two teams.

It was Hartlepool who now found themselves on the back foot as the Spireites were now in full control of the game. With just 13 minutes of the second half played, Bowery created a chance for strike partner Adam Smith who happily took the invitation and put Chesterfield ahead.

Hartlepool, being knocked for six by Chesterfield's impressive come back, were starting to crack at the seams and during a bizarre incident had a player sent off for head butting his own team mate. Memories of Lee Bower and Kieron Dyer's fight of 2005 came flooding back to the spectators around.

Chesterfield were unlucky not to increase their lead and had good chances to do so. A Smith had two good chances with his head, Ross Burns had a shot that went just over the bar and Burrow hit the post with a decent header.

Full Time Hartlepool 2 Chesterfield 3

Chesterfield: Turner, Tingay, Granger, Clay, Holmes, Moller (Clare), A Smith (Burrow), Darikwa, Bowery, Burns (S Smith)
Sub not used: Needham

Youth Manager Dave Bentley said "It was a poor half defensively as we gave two sloppy goals away but a top draw second half with everyone playing their part"

Chesterfield's next fixture is against Darlington on Saturday at Warminster Road in the 3rd round of the League Cup, 12 noon KO.