Reports | Chesterfield

Roy McFarland made the one change to the side that draw with Gillingham last weekend preferring the more mobile Caleb Folan to Wayne Allison in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation depending on how you view such things Pools caretaker boss Paul Stephenson gambled on the fitness of Adam Boyd in attack and Michael Nelson returned to bolster the Pools defence. Paul Stephenson side started the game with a very attack minded 4-3-3 formation.

The home side started the brighter and on 7 minutes Anthony Sweeney's angled shot was tipped around post by an alert Barry Roche. From the resultant corner Ritchie Humphrey's cross was headed cleared by Caleb Folan but only as far as Chris Llewellyn lurking on the edge of the box and from twenty-five yards out hit a powerful strike that crashed against Barry Roche's left hand post and out of play.

On 14 the woodwork again kept the Spireites level when centre half Michael Nelson's volley smashing into the woodwork. Again Humphreys delivery was the key this time his free kick from the left found Ben Clark at the far post and the big defender, headed back across goal for Nelson whose fierce shot cannoned back off Barry Roche's right hand post.

On 19 Adam Boyd chased down the Hartlepool left and seemed to run straight into Gareth Davies as he tried to shepherd the ball and gave the home side a debatable free-kick. The Spireite utility player seemed to pick up a knock at this point and was soon replaced by Alan O'Hare on 24 minutes. Phil Picken switched over to the right back birth and Alan O'Hare slotted in on the left.

The Spireites were a rather lacklustre and sloppily with possession and relied mostly on shots from distance - Jamie O'Hara saw an effort from 25 yards was well-blocked by Clark, while Caleb Folan saw a shot from well outside the area creep just wide of Konstantopoulos left hand post. Mark Allott was very industrious in midfield playing just in front of the back four and the pick of the Spireites side who were largely disappointing in the first period

Half time 0-0

Reuben Hazell hobbled back onto the field in clear discomfort and was struggling to walk let alone run. He tried to play through the obvious discomfort but clearly could not continue and on 54 was eventually replaced with Wayne Allison who moved up front to partner Caleb Folan. The reshuffled Spireite pack then saw Jamie O'Hara slotting in a left back with Alan O'Hare moving to partner Aaron Downes in the centre of a very youthful Spireite back four.

O'Hara's stay at left back was short lived however and Mark Allott moved to right back and Phil Picken returned to the left, which did give the side more balance in a 4-4-2 formation. Chances started to come the Spireites way on 57 Caleb Folan looked set to break the deadlock but screwed his shot narrowly wide of Konstantopoulos right hand post. Kevan Hurst shot wide two minutes later and with the Spireites in the ascendancy Paul Stephenson brought on Jon Daly for Chris Foley on 57 and then introduced Matty Robson for Mark Tinkler two minutes later to try and change things for the home side.

The move reaped instant dividends on 65 with the lively Robson picked up a Pools defensive clearance just inside his own half he battled through a Derek Niven challenge and from 25 yards with defenders backing off him he hit a crisp shot passed Barry Roche's despairing dive. 1-0 Pools

On 68 the pools used their last substitute replacing the injured Sweeney with Darrell Clarke. On 69 Paul Hall was denied a leveller thanks to a great block by Richie Humphries which resulted in a series if Spireite corners

On 74 Darrell Clarke fouled Paul Hall just outside the Hartlepool area and Jamie O'Hara's free kick flow just over Konstantopoulos's bar. Mark Allott went close on 78 with a long range effort which went narrowly wide and Colin Larkin replaced Jamie O'Hara in a rather attack minded Spireite midfield.

On 80 Caleb Folan looked to have the goal at his mercy after Phil Pickens free kick was flicked into his path Folan's shot though was to close to keeper Konstantopoulos who saved superbly with his legs.

On 82 Colin Larkin appeared set to level things he got behind the Pools defence who appealed for offside in vain, Larkin appeared to have controlled the ball but his eventual shot seemed miss hit into the ground and once again Konstantopoulos was able to save with ease

Hartlepool looked tired and Boyd in his first 90 minutes since September in particular seems to be playing from memory but somehow they seemed then to get the better of the attack minded Spireite midfield and kept the ball for several minutes in the Spireite half. The very impressive Matty Robson made another run and this time his shot was saved tipped around the post by Roche.

Deep into injury time Boyd saw an effort again tipped around the post by Roche

Full time 1-0 Pools

So the Spireites unbeaten run came to an end against a spirited and determined Hartlepool side clearly out to impress caretaker manager Paul Stephenson. But the Spireites created enough chances especially in the second period to have at least levelled. There was plenty of fight and spirit even though the players had to cope with several reshuffled formations and positions to compensate for injured team mates and skipper Mark Allott probably just ahead of the excellent Phil Picken for SPIREITES WORLD mtom honours. Its time though to put the unbeaten run out behind us and to hopefully start another especially with the top six starting to pull away perhaps could it be time to be a little more adventurous and start 4-4-2 and see what happens against Doncaster on Wednesday night.

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Darren Williams, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Sweeney (Clarke 69), Tinkler (Robson 59), Turnbull, Foley (Daly 58), Boyd, Llewellyn.
Subs Not Used: Provett, Barron.

Booked: Darren Williams.

Goals: Robson 65.

Chesterfield: Roche, Davies (O'Hare 24), Hazell (Allison 54), Downes, Picken, Hall, Niven, Allott, Hurst, O'Hara (Larkin 78), Folan.
Subs Not Used: Muggleton, Heath.

Att: 4,596.

Ref: G Sutton (Lincolnshire