Chesterfield finally closed the curtains on their pre season friendlies with a 2-1 away victory over Calverton at Hollingwood Lane. In a match that saw all three goals scored by Chesterfield players, the Spireites had to come from a goal behind to end their busy summer schedule in triumph.

The Spireites found themselves without first team regulars Jimmy Adcock, Josh Wright and Chris Tingay, meaning that Dave Bentley had to shuffle around a few players in the process. Adcock and Wright were both experiencing difficulties in breathing prior to the match and were left out as a precaution, where Tingay was given a well deserved rest after an impressive performance on Monday night.

Within just 15 seconds of the kick off, Chesterfield were almost in the lead with one of the quickest opportunities seen this year. A poor pass back to the Calverton number one was met with an equally poor clearance that hit the body of striker Jordan Burrow, who had began to close down the goalkeepers clumsy start. Fortunate for the home side the ball bounced off Burrow and went wide for a goal kick, sighs of relief coming from all in a red shirt.

Just five minutes later and it appeared that the Spireites had taken the lead, when Edridge's header dipped into the back of the net, but to Chesterfield's disappointment the referee was quick to disallow the goal.

Sam Smith, filling in the vacant strikers role, sliced a close range effort over the crossbar after a well worked corner that saw Ben Watkis's delivery receive a crafty flick on by captain Craig Clay.

Chesterfield began to find their feet in the initial stage of the game and had two early attacks defended well by the Calverton centre backs, before the Spireite strike force could quite latch on to them. Clay's distribution was beginning to look threatening as  wingers Jordan Edridge and Tendayi Darikwa were on the receiving ends on both flanks.

But just as Bentley's side looked to be taking control of the match, disaster struck.

Unlucky own goal by Jordan Burrow

A free kick on the right hand side of the Chesterfield penalty box was drifted in dangerously, but as Burrow, who had come back to help out, attempted to clear the threat with a volley, the ball somehow ended up the back of the Spireite goal giving the home side the lead after 21 minutes.

It wasn't long before Burrow was up the opposing end trying to eradicate his earlier mistake, and almost did with a powerful header minutes later, but despite the number 10 beating his defender to the ball he couldn't quite direct the header, resulting in a goal kick.

Sandy Moller and Clay continued to deliver the ball deep into the oppositions half, with Smith and Darikwa being the main target men. Chesterfield finally found a way through Calverton's powerful back four through a controversial moment of play.

Darikwa's dipping ball over the top found Smith, who clearly beat the offside trap, despite Calverton's constant appeals, and with a great turn produced a fantastic finish.

If there was such a competition, Smith's 29th minute strike would defiantly be a contender for 'pre season goal of the season'. Even the goalkeeper, who had no chance, admired in amazement at the finish that rocketed into the top corner.

The fantastic strike was no more than what the Spireites deserved.

Calverton had a few half chances before the half time period, after Chesterfield were caught napping both in the air and on the floor, but Calverton's firing power was severely lacking in accuracy.

A knock picked up in the first half forced Bentley to replace Scott Webb with under 16's goalkeeper Sam West, who has recently been training with Championship outfit, Newcastle United.

Jake Handbury, who started his first match since coming back from an injury last week, crossed in a decent ball for Burrow to attack, but it was just inches too high for the striker.

In a slower tempo half, much to the starting and stopping's of the referee, it was Chesterfield who were remaining to keep their game constant.

Ben Watkis, who came on as a substitute on Monday night, fired the Spireites into the lead with a terrific low driven shot.

After a half cleared attempt from the Calverton centre back, Watkis picked up the loose ball and proceeded to attack until he let rip a rasping 20 yard strike, that despite the goalkeepers best stretched effort, left him no chance, as the ball smashed into his bottom right hand corner.

Watkis, this time provider, teed up substitute Matt Needham for a close range effort, but the defender's accuracy couldn't match that of his against Teversall just two weeks ago, and had to watch his header sale gracefully over the bar.

With the match is serious danger of turning into a farce, with the referee deciding a drop ball would be the answer to every decision he wasn't quite sure of, it took a moment of luck for the Spireites to maintain their lead. A Calverton free kick just outside the Spireite's box beat West, but luckily for him the ball struck the woodwork, but the danger wasn't completely over and as the ball came out, Calverton again tried their luck from distance, but this time West's far post provided a helping hand.

In bizarre circumstances the referee was forced to order Bentley to sit down for the last remaining 15 minutes, after signs of starting to loose the game completely were beginning to show.

Calverton must of thought their luck was in when they were awarded another free kick in the same place as their previous near miss, but this time West pulled off a superb diving save to palm the ball to safety.

With the last attack of the match, Chesterfield had the chance to add another goal through live wire Smith. Clay's ball over the top was perfect for Smith to run on to and with the just keeper to beat, Smith chipped the ball over him but as it appeared to be a certain goal, a tracking back defender just managed to scrambled the ball off the line in the nick of time.

Afterwards youth manager Dave Bentley said "Tonight was the final game for us and I'm obviously delighted we've won the game because we was playing against a fairly strong team, who were quite physical against us, particularly in the first half."

Youth team manager Dave Bentley

"I had a chat at half-time and said we've got to look out for one another and yourself when your making challenges and I thought in the second half we did really really well. I moved a few players around again to give each player a game again, which was a bonus to all the players" Bentley continued.

Chesterfield (4-4-2) : Webb (West 46), Handbury, Moller, Clare (Needham 57), Granger, Clay, Darikwa (Palmer 73), Edridge (Beaglehole 60), Watkis, Smith, Burrow

Goals: Smith 29, Watkis 58

Report by Adam Hulme, the Spireites youth team reporter