Chesterfield 1 Grimsby Town 1
Saturday 7th March 2009
Warminster Road
Kick off 11 am

Chesterfield continued their good run of form by clawing a goal back in the dying stages to rescue a point for Dave Bentley's side. Top of the League Grimsby, took the lead just after five minutes of play but the Spireites were an equal match for the Mariners and proved it when Ross Burns levelled the sides with just minutes remaining in dramatic style.

Chesterfield found themselves without a few starting regulars before the match, with Matt Malak travelling with the first team to Wycombe and central defender Alexander Moller absent through illness. Dave Bentley was forced to make a few changes amongst the team, with young Scott Webb taking the number one jersey, and Burns playing an unusual role at centre half along side captain Richie Holmes.

The Mariners got off to a flying start and within the first five minutes showed why they are top of the table, as they took the lead after some strong attacking. The visitors number nine ploughed through the Chesterfield defence and slotted the ball past a hopeless Webb, who could only watch the ball fly into his bottom right hand corner.

A mix up at the Chesterfield back between the two centre backs left the Grimsby number nine with a chance to take his tally and his sides tally to two, but Webb had different ideas and pulled off a fine save to deny the goal scoring opportunity.

Just minutes later, Webb was again called into action after a long range effort from the visitors tested the young keeper, who got down to his left superbly.

A good standard of football was being played by both teams, which showed just what quality of football this league can produce.

Winger Sam Smith picked up the ball deep inside his own half and proceeded to attack the Grimsby goal, he managed to run 50 yards unchallenged before playing a neat ball through for Jordan Bowery on the left, who couldn't make his chance count as the ball beat the keeper but went the wrong side of the post.

Frustration in the Spireite side started to show, as Jimmy Adcock and Richie had a clash of words.

Bowery had an identical effort ten minutes later but this time on the right hand side, again he couldn't direct his effort on target.

If the first half was Grimsby's then the second half was defiantly Chesterfields, with the Spireites knowing what they needed to do to take the game to Grimsby.

Tendayi Darikwa had the Spireites first chance of the second half and was unlucky not to level the game with a superb half volley that just went inches over the bar.

The pressure was building as the second half progressed, with Webb being just a spectator as Grimsby were on the back foot.

Bowery and Adam Smith used their speed and strength and started to cause the visitors back four problems, and were both unlucky not to get on the score sheet.

Adcock made way for youngster Ben Watkis, with Chesterfield now changing to an attacking 4-3-3 formation and continued to push on for the equaliser.

With just a handful of minutes left on the clock, Chesterfield were handed a lifeline with a free kick just 25 yards from the Grimsby goal line.

Ross Burns stepped up to the challenge but his effort hit against a four man wall, but the referee demanded the free kick be taken again due to the wall not being the full distance back.

Burns stepped up again and this time made no mistake as his effort beat both the wall and the full stretched goalkeeper to secure a point for the Spireites.

It was a point that both teams deserved, but with the pressure Chesterfield created second half, they could have won all three.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Granger, Holmes, Burns, Clare, S Smith, Darikwa, Clay, Adcock (Watkis 65), Bowery, A Smith
Subs Not Used: Tingay, Needham