Saturday 20th April 2013
by Richard Stacey

Fleetwood Town 1-3 Chesterfield FC

Two goals from Marc Richards (left) , after Armand Gnanduillet had opened the scoring, helped the Spireites to all three points on their first ever visit to the Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, however, results elsewhere consigned Paul Cook's side to another year of League Two football.

The Spireites boss kept the same starting eleven from the midweek defeat to Plymouth but with Danny Whitaker and goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell returning to the bench.

Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander made one change, with Ryan Crowther replacing Conor McLaughlin. The change meant a return to left back for highly rated winger Junior Brown.

The game started in a lively fashion seeing former Spireite Alan Goodall booked in the first minute for a crunching challenge on Mark Randall.

The Spireites had the better of the early play as they dominated possession, though Marc Richards' appeal for a penalty were in vain after he appeared to have been fouled in the area.

On eleven minutes, Richard Brindley knocked the ball in behind the Fleetwood defence and Richards broke into the penalty area and found himself with just keeper Davies to beat - the Spireites marksman shot low but Davies made a smart save to keep the scores level.

Davies was in action again when the former Morecambe keeper beat away a Jay O'Shea shot for a corner from which Liam Cooper headed narrowly over the bar from Conor Townsend's cross.

The balance of power though started to swing towards the Cod Army with the home side forcing Tommy Lee into a number of smart saves.

Ryan Crowther curled an effort from the angle of the area that looked goal-bound, but Lee got across his goal to parry the ball and the Spireites number one then denied former Miller Gareth Evans who looked set to open the scoring by smothering his effort.

Crowther saw another shot go inches wide of Lee's goal and Jamille Matt also squandered a chance after more good work by Crowther.

On 32, Mark Randall brought down Ball in the centre circle and the Spireites man appeared to kick out at Ball, which led to a small melee with players from both sides confronting each other. Once order had been restored, referee Davies booked Randall.

On 34 minutes, Richard Brindley went off with what looked like a groin strain and was replaced by Armand Gnanduillet, as the full-back was struggling with mobility.

Drew Talbot. who had started on the left for the Spireites, moved from a central role to right back.

On 38 minutes, Paul McKenna, Evans and Matt linked well, before the lanky striker was again denied by Lee.

Two minutes later, Randall conceded another free kick with a challenge that could easily have resulted in a second yellow but thankfully, referee Davies was in a generous mood - only warning Randall about his future conduct.

The Spireites though finished the half in impressive style after weathering a period of sustained Fleetwood pressure.

On 43 minutes the home defence failed to clear Townsend's corner from the right, Neal Trotman headed the ball across goal and substitute Gnanduillet (left) bagged his third goal of the season with a header to keeper Davies' left.

0-1

In first half stoppage time, things got even better with a magical finish from Marc Richards. Drew Talbot played a long ball from the right wing to Gnanduillet who knocked the ball down with his chest for Richards to smash the ball into the Fleetwood goal on the half-volley from the edge of the penalty area. 
 
HT: 0-2

Randall almost stole in for a third goal just after the break, O'Shea then trying from long range but it was Matt who went even closer for Fleetwood.  He managed to lift the ball over the advancing Lee on 49 minutes, after Cooper misjudged a header and the strikers lob from the edge of the area grazed the wrong side of the post.

Three minutes later, Matt was replaced by Mangan.

The Spireites secured the points with a third goal after 63 minutes. A mazy run by O'Shea ended with the Irishman slipping the ball through to Sam Togwell whose shot was blocked by the advancing Davies, the ball running out to Richards on the edge of the area and the striker struck a decisive left-foot shot into Davies' goal for his eleventh of the season, sending the travelling Spireites behind the goal - and down two sides of the ground - into bouncing mode.

0-3

Fleetwood though kept going forward and Beeley chested the ball down near the edge of his own area and set the ball moving upfield. Ball found Mangan who beat the offside trap before sliding the ball through Lee's legs for his third goal of the season.

1-3

Sam Hird replaced Randall in the 72nd minute. Soon after, Brown gave the liveley Mangan the chance to run on and strike a powerful right-foot shot wide of Lee's left post.

Mangan was in the thick of the action again, getting on the end of another pass before volleying over the bar from close range in the 79th minute.

Evans was replaced by Jean-Michel Fontaine on 81 and Jay O'Shea was replaced by Alex Henshall on 84.

Fleetwood continued to push forward and looked lively in the attacking half.  McKenna was busy in midfield, releasing Mangan who, in turn, fed Crowther on the right, the cross gave Ball a chance but Lee was equal to it, saving to his right.

FT: 1-3


The Spireites eventually saw the game out infront of Fleetwood's highest attendance of the season, with a good following from Derbyshire making the journey and no doubt, enjoying the Lancashire sunshine.


Assistant Manager Tommy Wright (left) was in reflective mood after the game with the play offs now out of reach, "It's over a season and we've just fallen short. The players are good enough but we haven't scored enough goals throughout the season.

"Give the players credit - all we could do was win today - and we did. It's a shame because overall, being honest, it's a really disappointing season."

CHESTERFIELD:
Lee, Brindley (Gnanduillet 34), Cooper, Trotman, Townsend, Togwell, Randall (Hird 73), Darikwa, O'Shea (Henshall 84), Talbot, Richards.
Unused subs: Whitaker, O'Donnell, Clay, Boden. 
 
Goals: Gnanduillet 44, Richards 45, 63. 

FLEETWOOD TOWN:
Davies, Beeley, Matt (Mangan 53), Brown, Goodall, McGuire, Crowther, Ball, Edwards, Evans (Fontaine 81), McKenna.
Unused subs: Barry, Pond, Nicolson, McLaughlin, Lucas.
 
Goals: Mangan, 68
 
Referee: Andy Davies
 
Attendance: 3,705

For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk

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