With the big kick off only 7 days away at Chester Lee Richardson opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Adam Smith given a chance to prove himself on the left of midfield.  Friday afternoon's late signing Peter Leven was on the bench and joined by Kevin Gray and Jamie Ward who are both on the road back to full fitness following hamstring strains.

York City kicked off wearing their new 3^rd choice kit of pale blue shirts and maroon shorts with the Spireites in the new red kit kicking towards the David Longhurst Stand.

Derek Niven took a kick on his shin in the first minute and seemed to suffer throughout the first half. On five minutes Adam Smith chased a long through ball and beat McGurk for pace and cut back onto his right foot to cross across the goal mouth. York dealt with the cross but conceded a corner which was wasted by Gregor Robertson whose low cross was easily dealt with by the first man at the near post.

On nine a long punt forward by Barry Roche fell to Jack Lester twenty yards from goal he controlled but his shot went well over the bar.

York  were working hard and left sided midfielder Woolford seemed to find more space than he should on a few occasions and former Mansfield striker  Chris Bearsdley was looking lively but the Spireite back four coped well when under pressure and both team struggled to find that killer pass to unlock resolute defences.

On 23 Manny Panther broke from midfield for York but Derek Niven covered across from the right flank and made a well timed tackle. However the ball fell luckily straight to Craig Farrell twenty five yards from goal and his first time effort flew narrowly wide of Barry Roche's goal.

York started to look the more threatening with the Spireite midfield not really gelling and forwards Lester and Fetcher starting to look isolated from midfield and each other.

32 minutes good work by Phil Picken who beat Panther to the ball and then played terrific ball over the top of the York defence for Lester to control on his chest and neatly lob York keeper Evans to put the Spireites in front.

The goal finally helped the Spireites settle on 38 the Spireites should have increased their lead. Roche's quick clearance to Smith and the Spireites wide man broke into the York half he found Jamie Winter who spotted the overlapping Robertson and his neat pass opened things up for the left sided full back but Evans saved Robertson shot and the ball was scrambled clear

York equalised immediately after on 40 minutes a low left wing cross was flicked onto the Spireite bar by Roche from Bryson's flick and  the rebound was thumped home by Farrell despite Lowry's best efforts on the line to keep the ball out.

Half time 1-1

The Spireites kept the same eleven for the start of the second half kicking toward the 137 travelling Spireites. Billy McEwan made one change for York with A Trialist on the tannoy (20 was Luke Crosser on the team sheet) replacing Carl Jones.

The Spireites started brightly with Derek Niven firing over from 15 yards.

Niven was in action again on 52 with a low drive which was well saved by Evans in the York goal. Niven continued his lively start to the second period breaking down the right wing and crossing for a climbing Fletcher to head toward goal but Evans saved.

Jack Lester was next in space but shot well over from twenty five yards

Substitutions for both sides just after the hour mark Onome Sodje and Richard Brodie replaced Woolford and Farrell for the home side whilst Kevin Gray, Jamie Ward and Peter Leven replaced Kovacs, Fletcher and Lowry for the Spireites.

Lee Richardson swapped things about but kept a 4-4-2 formation with Ward and Lester up front. Leven lined up on the left with Smith switching to the right wing. Phil Picken moved to right back and Derek Niven moved to play in his more familiar central midfield role.

Leven was immediately into the action thumping in a terrific free kick from the Spireites right which York back line did well to defend in their six yard area

The leggy Panther broke down the Spireites left side and his cross found Brodie who struggled to get the ball out from under his feet and his eventual shot was blocked before Panther shot well wide from the edge of the area.

Sodje was starting to prove a handful and beat Robertson on the Spireites left and his near post cross was hacked away by Downes. Billy McEwan brought on Greenwood and Meechan for Beardsley and Brayson  

Craddock replaced Purkiss. The Trialist under pressure from Ward tangled with his keeper Evans and had to receive treatment.

Sodje then gave the home side the lead on 75 minutes after a neat interchange of passing Panther released the fleet footed forward and he coolly slotted home past Roche in the Chesterfield goal.

The game quickly turned into the Onome Sodje show when he again threatened to increase York's lead. A hopeful punt forward and the lively forward again tangled with Downes and then got in behind him but this time his shot was well blocked by Roche and Picken chested the ball painfully out for a corner.

Sodje was terrorising the Spireite back four and caused further panic in the Spireites defence and again got off a shot at goal 8 yards but the Spireite keeper made a brilliant save to deny the Minstermen's live wire.

Minutes later Sodje again out muscled Downes this time on the right wing but his cross was cleared by Gray.

Jack Lester was tugged on the edge of the York area Leven's poor free kick was deflected for a corner and a brief session on pin ball ensued in the home sides penalty area. Lester and Winter both seeing shots blocked by York defenders.

Kevin Gray was fortunate late on when he was out paced by Panther Gray clipped with the York man tumbling into the area. Referee Mr Haines gave a free kick just outside the box which Roche did well to parry over Brodies curling drive.

Sodje again in the final minutes got onto a near post cross but Roche gathered to deny.

York ran out deserved winners in the end after the Spireites looked comfortable in the first period but the introduction of Sodje made all the difference his direct powerful running proved too much for the Spireites defence. So with seven days to go untill the big kick off there is plenty of work to do and decisions to be made as to who will start in midfield defence and up front.

York City

Evans, Purkiss ( Craddock), David McGurk, Carl Jones (Trialist Crosser), Robinson, Elliott, Panther, Woolford (Sodje), Farrell ( Brodie), Paul Brayson ( Greenwood), Beardsley (Meechan)

Unused Subs Pentney, Rhodes,

Chesterfield

Roche,Lowry,(Leven)Roberston,Downes,Kovacs(Gray),Niven,Winter,Picken,Smith,

Fletcher,(Ward)Lester

Unused Subs Jordan,Jackson, ,O'Hare,Shaw,

Referee Mr A Haines

Attendance 766

137 away

Video interview with Lee Richardson to follow on SPIREITES WORLD

RS