The month (and year) got off to a swift start with maroon-clad Blackpool in Town on New Year's Day, including our old hero Ian Evatt, having failed to establish himself at QPR. The Seasiders arrived in a run of excellent form, so in typical Town fashion we put paid to that with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory. Gareth Davies made his first league start of the season in an unaccustomed left back position, whilst Adam Smith came in for Paul Hall. Our first goal came early on when Kevan Hurst, in the last game of his loan spell, finished off a fine move with his first Saltergate goal of the season, but his second against Blackpool. Caleb netted a second just before the break with another splendid effort and the half time Bovril went down well despite the lashing rain.
A goal and bye bye Hursty against Blackpool
The second half was notable for our defence holding firm and Evatt, clearly wound-up and wanting to do well back at Saltergate, being lucky to stop on the pitch after altercations with both Allott and Picken. Credit must go to the referee, however, for using the common-sense approach throughout the game. Strangely the 2-0 score was our first for over 13 months.
Another old boy Ian Evatt squared up to Phil Picken
The first Saturday saw a blank fixture card with BristolCity engaged in FA Cup action, so next up was Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. This proved less of an impressive affair with the ref centre-stage for not very common-sense reasons. The Alex featured another ex-Spireite in goalkeeper Ben Williams and he was fairly busy early on as Town held the upper hand. On 20 minutes, however, Maynard broke to put the visitors 1-0 up rather against the run of play and after the Chief was blatantly fouled. He was booked by Mr Beeby for his protestations-very un-Chief-like. Within 10 minutes, we were level with a great near-post header by Derek Niven from Davies's left wing cross. Smith's teasing crosses were causing the Alex rearguard no end of difficulties and Jones almost sliced one into his own net, but Crewe escaped with only the concession of a corner. 1-1 at half time certainly flattered the visitors and it was, at this point looking good.
Hally levelled things only for disaster to strike minutes later
The second half was a different tale though, as Varney soon outpaced a strangely sluggish Downes and a hesitant Roche on 54 to give the visitors the lead again. Crewe's pacy frontmen continued to give our defence problems and we had no real cutting edge. With 20 minutes left Allison and Smith were replaced by Larkin and Shaw. Things appeared to perk up a little and with 9 minutes left, Hall equalised despite Williams' best attempts at a save. Just when penalties looked a likelihood, we blew it big-style. Allott had the ball just outside our box and in attempting to spray it wide, played it straight off Mr Beeby into the path of Varney, who had little difficulty in beating Roche from inside the box. Deep into injury time, Varney added a 4th to notch his hat-trick from a suspiciously offside position. Despite the significant contribution of the referee in Crewe's victory, I thought they deserved it and their swift, incisive forward play would have been a joy to watch, were it not against us.
Debut boy Michael Jordan at Millmoor
Given Barry Roche's hesitancy of late, Mr Mac dropped him for the short trip to Millmoor on the Saturday in what turned out to be a typical away day in Rotherham. The Millers were struggling and having lost their 2 best players to Watford in the week, confidence was particularly low. Against anyone else, we'd have lost, but as it was Rotherham, we won it fairly comfortably, though only by 1-0. Caleb netted after 33 minutes after Allott's long throw was controlled by Shaw and knocked back into the big Yorkshireman's path just inside the box. Michael Jordan, on his debut, acquitted himself well, though the dispirited Millers threw very little at him. Our other debutant, Peter Holmes (Albert to us older Spireites) had a good debut and will hopefully be with us longer than the initial month's loan from Luton. This meant we'd actually won 2 league games on the trot for the first time in 14 months-a bit of a relief.
We weren't to follow this up against Brighton, though, a week later, despite the Sussex outfit turning up at Saltergate on the back of 6 straight defeats and without a goal in ages. With the exception of Downes and Holmes, we were rubbish and succumbed to Gatting's goal early in the second half from a well-flighted corner badly defended. It was like Basingstoke all over again-poor opposition, wind and a useless display by us. To give Brighton their due, they worked very hard, and were well marshalled by the portly Guy Butters, but they offered little other than effort and organisation. That, however, was enough on the day. The only other item of note was a debut for Kyle Critchell as a late substitute after his signing for the rest of the season from Southampton.
Caleb now a Latic
The game turned out to be Caleb Folan's last for Town as Wigan Athletic snapped him up for a reported half a million fee. That appeared to limit our striking options for the rest of the season and Hall came back for the short trip to Huddersfield. The Terriers were without the injured and transfer-listed Hudson whilst Brandon and Beckett made the side. Critchell made his full debut for us in place of Gaz Davies. We started well and Mirfin did brilliantly to clear Niven's effort off the line. On 23 minutes we took a deserved lead when a fine, flowing move ended with Holmes heading in Critchell's cross at the back post.
Peter "Albert" Holmes scores his first Spireite goal at the Galpharm
We lost our way somewhat after that as the home side went route one and equalised after the break with substitute Young netting a simple goal. Both sides could have won-substitute Larkin's first touch resulted in a good save by Glennon and in a rare break, Niven's fine run ended with the Scot sliding his effort just wide. Holmes knocked a Beckett header off the line and the ineffective ex-Spireite had a poor day, scuffing every shot, whilst the now unpopular Brandon was again substituted-serves him right some might say. Much the opposite of Brandon and Beckett's reception was reserved for Wayne Allison when he appeared late in the piece as substitute. He was warmly applauded onto the pitch by the home fans, as he always is at his ex-clubs. Messrs Brandon, Hudson and Beckett would do well to look at how a true professional conducts himself both on and off the pitch. Anyway, the game ended, fairly at 1-1 and we could be reasonably satisfied with the afternoon's entertainment, apart from the dismissal of Mark Allott at the death for another clumsy challenge to earn his second yellow card of the afternoon.
Off the pitch, the month saw a long, protracted CFSS AGM and the football club AGM both of which put flesh on the bones of the new ground plans and passed resolutions to restructure the organisation and finances of the club. It's not perfect, but it's the best we could have achieved given all the constraints, I feel. The cynics were out in force, especially at the CFSS meeting and they'll not believe the new ground will happen until we're in it, but generally, things are lining up something close to plan. More detail should be available in 6 weeks or so, but the 3.5 million funding gap appears to be the most significant bridge to cross.
Two new signings
Hot on the heels of Caleb's departure, we made 2 late signings with Jamie Ward, a striker, joining from Torquay and Sebastien Grimaldi, a French defender signing from some obscure Belgian club that I've never heard of. Hopefully he's of the significant presence that Mr Mac admitted we were lacking in his Q&A at the AGM.
John's man of the month Peter Holmes
Finally, the man of the month is again not obvious, given the less-than-consistent performances in the period. Once more, Aaron the Aussie was up there whilst Jordan and Smith made some steady contributions. "Albert" Holmes gets the nod though for 3 good performances and a sound goal at the Galpharm-sign him on Roy!
