Spireites make four changes to the side which beat Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. In come Kevin Gray, Jamie Jackson, Adam Rooney for his first start in Spireite colours and Wayne Allison. Josh Law makes the bench along with Youth Team players Ben Algar & Jake Williams.
The Spireites kicked off towards the Cross Street End playing
The match was dominated in the early stages in the midfield area with both sides looking to play that "killer" ball which didn't come off for now. A Niven ball on 12 found Rooney who showed an excellent turn of pace to beat Godwin Antwi and Jan Budtz former
An element of Sarcasm from the Spireite faithful as Gray won a free kick which was granted by the referee Mr Bratt from
Short ball from Barker almost came to Joel Porter but Picks cleared the danger, from this Picken looked disturbed and was replaced by Josh Law who was making his Spireite debut coming into right midfield with Jamie Lowry dropping to right back. On 22 a Adam Rooney shot was well saved by Budtz as the Spireites tried to up the tempo.The resulting corner from Robertson was cleared by the Pools defence. Winter and Liddle went in hard on one another and the ref chose to calm things down with a talking to.
On 24 a Robertson corner found Kevin Gray who's header made way to Rooney and he tried a spectacular overhead kick but it was deemed foulable by the man in black. Great tackle from from Michael Nelson after a little dink from Niven almost went to Rooney (who was looking very dangerous)again. Some neat interchange between the Chief, Law and Rooney again made the Pools defence open their eyes.
29 gone and the menacing Porter was played through by Gary Liddle and his stabbed effort went wide of the far post. Another through ball by Foley trying to find Porter was read well by Kovacs and the chance was cleared. A foul on Rooney and the Spireites gained a free kick on the edge of the Penalty area, Winter's low free kick was eaasily saved by Budtz and Town were getting frustrated.
Ben Clark went in hard on Jamie Winter and the former
37mins had passed and Pools tried again to break through the static Spireites defence and we were on the ropes at this point. Yet again Foley played another super pass through to Porter which was expertly saved by Roche from the save Barry had to tip over Foley shot which was zooming towards goal.
On 45 mins a weak effort from Robertson admittedly on his wrong foot when past the post, a shot by Porter was blocked by Kovacs after a Richie Barker knock down. Barker was once a target for the Spireites when he was at Macclesfield in 2001 but for various reasons which we all know about the deal never went through.The ref then blew for oranges and teamtalks.
No changes at half time. On 47 a ball from Winter found Rooney who's fluffed effort found Law who's shot was cleared on the line by Antwi. Jackson then swapped to the right hand side and Law moved over the left. On 49 mins Gary Liddle found himself in the book. Hartlepool doubled their lead on 50 mins with a cross cum shot by JAMES BROWN after the Spireites defence was caught napping from a quickly taken corner. Straight away the Spireites tried to hit back when a flick by Allison nearly found Rooney and Budtz reached and claimed.
Winter had his name taken by Mr Bratt on 54 mins and Pools made their second change with Barker taking an age to go off to be replaced by Michael Mackay. The Spireites then brought Jackson off with Youth Team player Ben Algar making his Spireite debut. Algar was straight into the action and he found Rooney who in turn played Niven and he fed Allison but his shot was blocked.
Town then made another change with O'Hare coming on for Winter, Robertson made his way into midfield with O'Hare slotting into left back. A Law pass found Allison who charged down on goal but could only put it wide. 59 mins gone and it was game over, Foley quickly passed it to Mackay down the left and an excellent cross went through to JAMES BROWN who "felt good" as he slotted it past Roche. Brown was denied his hat-trick as he was replaced by Jamie McCunnie.
A ball through to Joel Porter and Roche had to be smart to stop it becoming a rout which was harsh to be fair. Good work from the impressive Algar who read a sloppy pass from the Pools defence but his cross went straight into the arms of Budtz. Algar was becoming a menace to Ali Gibb on the left hand side when further excellent play was rather spolit by his cross being closer to my father on the Kop end rather in the six yard box, nevertheless he was proving himself and working hard, Ben Algar that is not my Dad.
70 mins gone and a good cross from Lowry well cleared by Clark. A two footed challenge by Antwi results in a yellow card for the Liverpool man. The resulting free kick taken by Law hits the crossbar and he was unlucky, from the shot Pools break and only for the assistants flag are they denied a certain shot on goal.
72 mins and we are back in it with a goal from WAYNE ALLISON it was neat work from the big man with lovely touch and low drive which found the back of the net. 78 mins gone and a smart flick from the Chief finds Rooney who is clear on goal but can only put his shot wide, you got the feeling that it wasn't going to be our night. On 80 minutes a wild volley from Robertson was later spotted on radar going towards West Bars. Seconds later a harsh decision on Lowry when he went into a challenge on Porter and he gets his name taken for the referee's christmas card list.
On 87 Pools started to spray the ball about with around thirty passes which eventually comes to nothing but by now the Spireites immensely frustrated and were forced to watch Pools attack at ease. On 90 mins Algar forces Gibb into a foul and he becomes another tick in the book. Three minutes of injury time pass with no chances for either side and Mr Bratt blows the whistle.
Impressive stuff from Pools overall and they clearly looked a side above us, but what was more impressive from a biased point of view was the performance of our youngsters. Law.Lowry and Algar showed excellent touches and this bodes well for the future, Jackson didn't get much of a look in but we know what he can do. I doubt very much that Bury will get as much space or perform as well as Pools tonight and I would assume that our manager would be pleased with the effort that the lads gave but to no avail....ah well there's always the FA Cup.
Chesterfield: Roche, Picken (Law 21), Robertson, Kovacs, Jackson (Algar 55), Gray, Lowry, Niven, Winter (O'Hare 58), Rooney, Allison.
Subs Not Used: Jordan, Williams.
Booked: Niven, Winter, Lowry.
Goals: Allison 72.
Hartlepool: Budtz, Nelson, Brown (McCunnie 61), Antwi , Clark, Liddle, Humphreys, Gibb, Robson (Foley 17), Barker (Mackay 54), Porter.
Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Turnbull.
Booked: Liddle, Antwi , Gibb.
Goals: Foley 34, Brown 51, 59.
Att: 2,127.
Ref: Steve Bratt (W Midlands).
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