The busy month of January got off to a cracking start with Wrexham in Town on New Year's Day in the depths of a slump with 5 straight defeats. We were ahead in just 7 minutes as Leven scored from distance, taking advantage of keeper Anthony Williams' poor clearance to return the ball into the net, much to Williams' discomfort. This was Leven's third Town goal and his second against the Welshmen. Despite virtually total dominance against a deflated-looking Wrexham outfit, we contrived to miss chances and spurn easy crossing opportunities until 41 minutes when Lester increased our lead. The second half saw similar Town supremacy until 68 minutes when we went to sleep and the Red Dragons scored from a corner. Thereafter it was panic stations as Brian Little's men sensed our vulnerability and we were thankful for 2 fine saves by Barry Roche and timid finishing by the visitors for our running out 2-1 winners. This was not confidence boosting stuff despite the 3 points and our fourth successive victory.

Captain Pete got us off to a flyer against Wrexham

Grimsby were next in Town on Saturday with Jack Lester missing out against his former club owing to suspension. Steve Fletcher returned in place of Lester. The first half saw us again in command with the Mariners on the back foot for most of the half. Leven appeared to have scored on 25 minutes but the linesman deemed that the ball had not crossed the line. Fletcher struck a post and further opportunities went begging then 2 minutes into injury time, the Mariners stole the lead as North turned Downes to slot past Roche.

Despite a few slips soon after the resumption, we were soon in the ascendancy and to try to improve matters, Michael Barnes came off the bench for his debut in place of Winter. Fletcher hit the post again and we just could not equalise. The game was then up after 76 minutes when North attacked again and Downes tried to force him wide on the run. The Grimsby forward then plummeted once he was in the box and the referee was duly fooled and awarded the penalty. North's reaction told it all-he was delighted to have conned the official and he then duly converted the penalty to put the game beyond our reach. Ward's excellent late effort to reduce the arrears was in stark contrast to his performance otherwise as he looked well out of sorts. Mariners assistant manager Stuart Watkiss did nothing to endear his club to the Town as his mocking antics and gestures to the centre stand would have been enough to cause violence in other venues. I suspect that Watkiss was sufficiently savvy to know that. It was a thoroughly unpleasant footnote to an unhappy afternoon. Mr Richardson's shaking his hand seconds later didn't exactly lift the spirits either.

North brings Aaron Down in his own area pen Grimsby!

Brentford's Griffin Park was our next venue to face a Bees side now looking in recovery mode under former, if somewhat reluctant, Spireite Andy Scott.  We featured debutant Brendan Moloney on loan from Forest and Jack Lester back from suspension. Adam Rooney dropped out. Early forays were fairly even, but we went behind on 25 minutes after the Bees won 3 50/50 tackles in succession and Smith struck from just inside the box. The home side then, buoyed by the goal proceeded to dominate, but much against the run of play, Lester equalised with a typical striker's finish on 41 minutes. In an effort to combat the home side's greater muscle, Steve Fletcher replaced Jamie Winter at the break. The move seemed to work as we applied more pressure to the Brentford goal but it survived intact. On 61 we went behind again as several attempts to clear failed and Poole rammed the ball in from the edge of the box. Lowry hit a post 5 minutes later and Ward failed to convert a good chance shortly afterwards, but we always looked short of conviction and sank to our second successive defeat. Moloney's performance was the real highlight, as he looked full of energy and confidence in an otherwise lacklustre display.

Jack on target again at Griffin Park

We had a swift opportunity to put things right with the rearranged Rochdale game on the Wednesday night. Michael Barnes made his full debut whilst Jamie Ward only made the bench. The first half saw Dale go 2 up with Perkins punishing errors by Downes to stun the home crowd. The atmosphere at half time was dismal, but within 4 minutes of the resumption, Downes had partially redeemed himself with a headed goal from a corner. Ten minutes later we were level as Lester netted and the atmosphere was buzzing. At this point we had Dale on the rack and it looked like we'd be the only winners. It was not to be, however, as our defensive frailties re-emerged with 4 minutes left and Perkins completed his hat trick with a shot from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Leven was hesitant in possession and was robbed allowing Murray to make it 4-2. We were not finished though and Rooney pulled one back in injury time and Fletcher almost equalised right at the death, but he was denied by Muirhead's heroic clearance. It was a great night for the neutral and even better if you were from Rochdale, but for Town fans 3 defeats on the spin was hard to take. This was not promotion-chasing stuff.

Aaron got one back early in the second half

Saturday was gameless as our match was switched to Monday as Sky were in town for the televised live match. The Bulls of Hereford were the visitors for the first time in just over 13 years. With torrential rain and a poor crowd against one of the form teams of the division, expectations were not high on planet Spireite. The team lined up with 2 changes with Alan O'Hare making a welcome return whilst Jamie Ward also was picked. Fletcher and Barnes dropped to the bench. The match started with a swift Town goal as Lowry netted after good work by Lester. Brown in the United goal was kept very busy and was soon picking the ball out of the net again as Lester chased down a bad backpass to score. Just before half time it got even sillier as Lester made it 3 with a typical impish finish at the near post. Although it was 3-0 at the break, it flattered us not at all as we were murdering Graham Turner's outfit. The second half was never going to be as easy, but we did the right things. When they were in possession, we defended high up the pitch and when they broke, the defence performed as a unit-a rare thing in recent times. This meant that Barry Roche was rarely troubled, but Hereford keeper Brown was forever kept on his toes. Just when it looked like the second half would be goalless, the best bit of the match happened. Moloney took possession around the half way line and advanced towards the Hereford area. The Bulls defence seemed to melt away and the Forest loanee switched the ball to his left foot and smashed it into the top corner of Brown's goal. It was very impressive and all the Sky types were suitably generous in their praise. The youngster sounded rather pleased and rather Irish in his post-match interview.

The impressive Brendon Moloney celebrated a cracker against the Bulls 

Next up was Wycombe away for a difficult encounter against a side having a very good home record. Mr Richardson kept faith with the 11 that beat Hereford, with O'Hare retained at left back and Robertson keeping his midfield berth. Early exchanges were scrappy, though Town gradually gained the upper hand. Ward forced Fielding to make a decent save, but you couldn't help felling he should have struck the shot better. Four minutes later, Scott McGleish showed us how it should be done with an excellent strike from just outside the box. Again, though, it came about when our attack broke down and we failed to snuff out the danger. The Chairboys then came into the game more as half time approached but the half ended with no more addition to the score. The hope was that we'd up our performance after the break as the first half was pretty dire from both teams' standpoint. It didn't happen and within 10 minutes of the resumption O'Hare was replaced by Fletcher. The reshuffle failed to spark things and the former Bournemouth man rarely had any service. The game became even more scrappy and petered out to the inevitable 1-0 Adams Park defeat. This was our 5^th such score in 11 visits to the place and our first defeat in red this season.

A rare appearance from Big Al at Adams Park 

The month's final action was at Edgeley Park on another rugby ground that was even more cut up than Adams Park. This time though, the 2 teams produced an excellent match, unlike the turgid encounter in Buckinghamshire. O'Hare and Lowry were dropped for this match and Gray and Fletcher came in to add muscle to the team. Downes was utilised in an unusual right back role. The first 10 minutes saw both sides showing well as an attacking force, but first blood went to the visitors as Downes' cross found Fletcher who headed home for his first goal since September. We started to take control after this, but as ever we pressed the self-destruct button just after the half hour. Niven was in possession and had a seemingly easy pass out wide with a least 2 options. He passed straight to a Hatter, however, and his advance saw Downes concede an unnecessary free kick. Roche came for the resulting cross and missed it, Robertson passed the ball straight across his own goal and Dickinson said "thank you very much" and duly equalised. The break came with the teams even.

Fletch opened the scorering in a cracking game at Stockport

Five minutes into the second half, Jack Lester scored again, this time taking Ward's pass, beating 2 men in the box to rifle past Logan for another excellent goal. The game then became end to end stuff with both keepers making saves, but County equalised on 63 minutes as Elding swept in Rose's deflected cross for his last Stockport goal this season. He left the day after for Leeds. Both sides went for winners and Ward, a target for County before we signed him, blazed wide from 3 yards when it looked easier to score. The home faithful found their mocking tones at this point. Corners and shots rained in at both ends as the game came to a conclusion but neither team could force a victory and an honourable draw was probably the right result for a game that was a credit to the division.

Off the pitch, the month saw the club AGM, not a particularly contentious affair, an announcement on planning permission on the new Whittington Moor ground and the departure of Gareth Davies, who has struggled since his bout of injuries. Also departing were Adam Rooney who was disappointed in not being given a regular place and Michael Barnes who failed to make any impact. Jamie Jackson and Adam Smith made low-key returns from loans to Matlock and Lincoln respectively. Rooney's departure is disappointing as I felt he looked sharp in a pure striker's role and his goal return was good, though his contribution outside the box was not significant. The ground thing is particularly pleasing as the cynics have been taking the silence as "it'll never happen", but I suppose until we kick off there, they'll still be saying it.

John's man of the month

Finally, the man of the month is short of serious contenders with Moloney in the frame for his spirited displays and that wonder goal against Hereford, but it goes to that class act again, Jack Lester for his goals. Six goals in six games in the month is impressive by anyone's standards and over 20 goals already in the season is certainly exceptional by Town standards.

A Review by John Taylor