SPIREITES YOUNGSTERS KO'D
Chesterfield 1 Cheltenham Town 1 (aet)
Cheltenham won 5-4 on penalties
Midland Youth Cup 2nd Round (Second Year scholars and younger players only)
Dave Bentley's young charges enjoyed the best of the 120 minutes of open play against ex Spireite Bob Bloomer's Cheltenham Town but, after conceding a late equaliser, lost out on penalties. After scoring their first four spot kicks and having seen keeper Aaron Bellairs save from Danny Shatford, all looked well for Chesterfield but Josh Lowe and Jake Williams, both Under 16 players, saw their efforts saved by Will Puddy which meant that The Robins' Tom Birch clinched it with the evening's 12th penalty.
Reuben Wiggins-Thomas scored the opening goal after 41 minutes, towards the end of a first half dominated by the home side, Ryan Johnson fed James O'Brien on the right and his whipped in cross found Wiggins-Thomas whose first touch controlled the ball and second sent it into the roof of the net from 15 yards. In a one-way period, Andy Taylor shot just wide, Wiggins-Thomas headed over and Marco Marchetta fired to within a whisker for The Spireites.
Cheltenham looked more competitive after the break, Woolfe shot just over after robbing Thomas Bull but it wasn't until the final 15 minutes that the game really opened up into an end to end contest. The impressive O'Brien's strong running began to cause Cheltenham a few problems but the visitors finally began to create some openings, Bellairs saved from Palmer and Thompson headed over in rapid succession just before, at the other end, O'Brien and Wiggins-Thomas caused problems.
Then, on 82, Thompson's shot forced an error from the Chesterfield keeper who conceded a corner, which after being partially cleared was driven back into the danger area for Stephen Thompson to turn in from what looked a suspiciously offside position.
Marchetta had the closest effort to win it before the end of normal time whilst both sides had extra time chances, the best falling to Chesterfield's Gary Challinor right at the end of the first period, but he delayed his shot too long and allowed Puddy to get into a position to save.
Penalties and Josh Low, James O'Brien, Andy Taylor and Marco Marchetta all converted to make it 4-3 with four pens each taken, young Josh Lowe saw his effort palmed onto the post, then Thompson made it 4-4, Jake Williams 12 yarder was saved down the middle and Birch took advantage to send Cheltenham through on a night when the best team didn't win.
Chesterfield: Bellairs, Law, Taylor, T.Bull, Roome, Steer (Williams 70), Johnson (Lowe 91), Challinor, O'Brien, Marchetta, Wiggins-Thomas. Subs (not used): Algar, Lister, Bearder
Cheltenham: Puddy, Allard, Shatford, Birch, Hancock (Walsh 46), Parker, Hobbs (Millichip 71), Woolf, Waters, Palmer, Thompson. Subs (not used): Morgan, Cartwright, Shepherd
