Chesterfield youth team's opening day fixture against Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Rovers in the Youth Alliance league ended in a goalless stalemate at Warminster Road thanks to some good work by goalkeeper Sam West.
Heading into the match on the back of a successful pre-season campaign, Dave Bentley and his side, newly sponsored by Holdsworth, were unable to penetrate a well organised Donny team in a match of limited chances.
The Spireites were without injured duo Jake Handbury and Ryan Dickinson going into the match as both face time away from the game with serious injuries.
Either side failed to create any real threat on goal in the opening stages of the match, as Jordan Burrow's tame effort on 11 minutes saw the first glimpse of opportunity for the Spireites.
After that it was the home side that were feeling the pressure as the visitors started to play the better football, but the Blues defence stayed alert to avoid any danger.
Chesterfield's attacks were limited to long misplaced crosses from both flanks, due to the tight defending of the Rovers. As the first half came to an end, neither side had any positives to take going into the second.
Just six minutes into the re-start and the Spireites had the efforts of goalkeeper Sam West to thank for the scores remaining goalless after a Donny flick-on beat fullback Will Johnson and gifted the Rovers number 11 the chance to break the deadlock.
Fortunately West was more than equal to the shot and stood up well to deny any possibility of an early second half goal for the visitors.
West had to remain alert as Doncaster continued to catch the Spireites off guard at the back with attacks occurring more frequently. Substitute Will Dennis twisted and turned on the right, but his shot (turned cross) lacked any conviction to cause any problems.
Just moments later and it was another Spireite substitute that found himself with a goal scoring opportunity and maybe should have done just that. Jacob Hazel sliced wide past an open goal after Jordan Edridge and Dennis combined well down the right to play in the attacker.
But it wasn't just the attacking side of Chesterfield's game that was off, but also their defensive side. Captain Matt Needham came to West's aid on 67 minutes when a challenge on the goalkeeper left him stranded from his goal, but Needham was there to pick up the pieces.
Ben Watkis 'impressive powerful run from deep inside his own half wasn't matched with the end product as his shot was directed straight at the Doncaster goalkeeper. Watkis was again on target when a cleared attack found its way to the Spireite number 8, but again it proved to be too comfortable for the goalkeeper.
Despite a decent Chesterfield spell, Doncaster continued to attack and after a neat Cruyff turn, the Donny number 8 unleashed a powerful strike that went just inches wide of West's far post.
Burrow had a chance late on to seal a victory for the Blues, but hit the woodwork after a clever chip, that summed up Chesterfield's disappointing day.
Chesterfield (4-4-2): West, Needham, Palmer, Edridge, Watkis, Beaglehole, Waddle (Hazel 61), Burrow, McKenzie, Wright (Dennis 57), Johnson
Subs Not Used: Wall, Dipper, Hibbert
Spireites reporter Adam Hulme
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