COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday August 15th, 3pm
Saltergate

CHESTERFIELD 1
Donal McDERMOTT 32

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance:  no attendance announced

Chesterfield: Tommy Lee, Phil Picken, Rob Page, Ian Breckin, Jamie Lowry, Mark Allott, Derek Niven (sub Dan Gray 77), Donal McDermott, Kevin Austin, Drew Talbot (sub Gregor Robertson 85), Jack Lester. Subs not used: Mark Crossley, Darren Currie, Jordan Bowery, Martin Gritton, Paul Harsley.

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Craig Hinton (sub Ryan Gilligan 65), Dean Beckwith, Chris McCready, Ben Marshall (sub Romone Rose 87), Abdul Osman, John Curtis, Andy Holt, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Steve Guinan (sub Billy McKay 82). Subs not used: Paul Walker, Alex Dyer, Michael Jacobs, Joe Benjamin

Referee: Mr S Rushton

Booked:
Chesterfield: none
Cobblers: Abdul Osman (22, 1st of the season), John Curtis (24, 1st), Steve Guinan (29, 1st) 

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Chesterfield: none
Cobblers: none

Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Northampton Town travelled to Chesterfield with boss Stuart Gray making three changes to the side that were knocked out of the Carling Cup at Southampton in midweek. Adebayo Akinfenwa, Paul Rodgers and John Curtis all came into the starting line up, replacing Billy McKay, Ryan Gilligan and Romone Rose.

On a breezy afternoon at Saltergate the Cobblers started brightly and created the first opportunity within the opening sixty seconds as Steve Guinan hit a first time curling effort just wide of the post. In the opening exchanges the Cobblers forced three early corners, the latter of which caused problems in the home side's six yard box. Adebayo Akinfenwa was twice denied by close range blocks and as the ball finally ricocheted slightly further out Dean Beckwith connected well, but again another defender was on hand to block his effort.

As play switched to the other end Paul Rodgers was penalised for a foul on Donal McDermott and from the resulting free-kick the home side thought they had taken the lead as Drew Talbot met the curling cross and finished well, but the celebrations were curtailed when the players realised that the referee had blown for a foul on Dean Beckwith.

The frenetic start gradually settled down into a more even pattern. On 22 minutes Abdul Osman could consider himself very unlucky to pick up a caution when on the blind side of the referee he won the ball as Donal McDermott went to ground, just 2 minutes later John Curtis also had his name taken. The referee was becoming centre of attention as on 29 minutes he administered a third Cobblers caution, this time to Steve Guinan who was late on Mark Allott.

The home side took the lead on 32 minutes as the livewire Donal McDermott found some space latching onto a cross field ball from Jack Lester before shooting home low from the edge of the area beating the outstretched arm of Dunn.

Akinfenwa tried to get the Cobblers back on even terms with a turn and volley from 25 yards which whistled just past the post on 44 minutes and in first half stoppage time Ben Marshall went even closer as his dipping 20 yard effort seemed to have the keeper beaten, but was an inch or so too high.

A quick flurry of corners and long throws presented Akinfenwa with 2 difficult chances early in the second half, the first opportunity was a low shot which lacked a little power and the second was a flick which went just wide of the far post.

Whilst the Cobblers upped the tempo in a concerted attempt to equalise, and had plenty of possession in and around the Chesterfield area, clear cut chances were at a premium. It wasn't all one way traffic though and the home side gave a timely reminder of their attacking intent on 58 minutes as firstly McDermott had his shot well blocked, with the rebound falling to Allott who drew a great save from Dunn.

Craig Hinton made way for Ryan Gilligan on 65 minutes as the Cobblers made their first change. The substitute's first effort saw Tommy Lee make a low save.

The Cobblers were inches away from a goal on 74 minutes when Ben Marshall beat Tommy Lee with a curling effort but the ball thudded against the post, before Chesterfield introduced Dan Gray for Derek Niven. Chris Dunn stretched to reach a Jack Lester curler on 79 minutes, before Billy McKay came on for Guinan. For the home side Gregor Robertson was the man coming on for Drew Talbot.

The home side were now hanging on nervously, and on a number of occasions they were at full stretch to head crosses away. In his final change, Stuart Gray brought Romone Rose on for Marshall. Although the Cobblers continued to push forward, the first half goal from Donal McDermott was enough to secure the three points for the Spireites.

CHESTERFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (6) 6
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (10) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

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