Monday 10th March 2014
by Richard Stacey

SkyBet League Two
Accrington Stanley 3-1 Chesterfield FC
Store First Stadium, Saturday 8th March, 2014, ko 3pm

Lee Molyneux's first half hat-trick earned 10-man Accrington Stanley a stunning 3-1 victory over Paul Cook's table topping Spireites at the Store First Stadium, with Ian Evatt's late consolation goal giving the Spireites some late hope.



Cook (above) made one change from the side that drew 0-0 against Portsmouth in Monday's Sky TV draw, Armand Gnanduillet was restored up top in place of Eoin Doyle.

It had been said beforehand that loanee Ian Dunbavin couldn't face his home club, so the Spireites went in without a keeper on the bench which featured only six subs.

Former England man and Accrington boss James Beattie however, made five changes to the side which lost 2-1 at Burton last weekend.

New loan signing - Wigan's Adam Buxton - made his debut at right back with Nicky Hunt suspended, whilst with illness ruling out Michael Liddle, Kal Naismith and Shay McCartan - Laurence Wilson ,Will Hatfield and James Gray came into the team. Beattie's final change saw Danny Webber start ahead of Kayode Odejayi, who dropped to the bench with Stanley scholar Max Hazeldine joining him.

Both sides looked lively after kickoff and Stanley created the first opportunity as midfielder James Gray tested the Spireites' backline with a teasing delivery, narrowly missing the far post.

Immediately afterwards, a mix-up between Keeper Marcus Bettinelli and Tom Aldred saw Gary Roberts free on goal but the former Stanley man stumbled after rounding Bettinelli, allowing Dean Winnard to get back and flick the ball clear of danger.

A minute later, Accrington took the lead after a free-kick struck by Molyneux appeared to be deflected enough to evade everyone, including Tommy Lee in the Spireites' goal to give Stanley the lead.

1-0

The Spireites though should have leveled in the 6th minute - Armand Gnanduillet seemed to have the easiest of chances to level the scores  but  side-footed a glorious chance wide from 6 yards after collecting Roberts centre after a jinking run down the wing.

The game continued at a pace and Molyneux went close again but was unable to capitalise on a mix up in the heart of the Chesterfield defence, and he raced clear only to drag his shot wide of the goal.

Stanley though added to the Spireites woes and doubled their lead in controversial circumstances in the 9th minute, as referee Scott Mathieson ruled that Richie Humphries had brought down Will Hatfield in the area.

Former Manchester United man Danny Webber's kick was saved by Tommy Lee but the lively Molyneux followed up to blast the ball in to the roof of the net. The Spireites seemed to complain about encroachment but the referee gave the goal.

2-0

Chesterfield now looked uncomfortable at the back and Molyneux thought he had a hat-trick when he fired through Lee's legs but Murphy was offside in the build-up to make the midfielder's joy short-lived.

The Spireites tried to fight their way back into the game - Richie Humphreys' pin point delivery in to the box, ripe for Gnanduillet to head goalward, but his effort was well parried by Bettinelli who then saw the loose ball fall to Roberts, whose goal bound shot was cleared by Buxton off the line.

Things could have got even worse for the Spireites on the half hour mark, as an incisive Stanley break away saw Gray sneak in behind the defence, but a splendid Lee save kept it at 2-0.

On 31 minutes, a robust challenge by Murphy on Dan Gardner (left), gave referee Mathieson no choice but to issue Murphy a second yellow card.

Sadly for the Spireites, Gardner left the field on a stretcher with a suspected broken ankle.

Marc Richards replaced the injured Gardner and with Stanley down to ten men, the Spireites took some control of the game creating pressure on the home goal but without really creating any clear cut openings, besides an Ollie Banks effort at the back post - his well struck half-volley going narrowly over.

In first half injury time, things got worse for Cook's men.  Sam Morsy, under pressure from Hatfield and Webber, squared a ball across his own penalty box to Molyneux who bore down on goal to stroke the ball home past Lee for a stunning hat-trick.

3-0

With the referee about to blow for half-time, Ollie Banks lunged in on Gray, sparking outrage amongst the players with Stanley skipper Luke Joyce the most vocal protester. The two sides went into the break at each other's throats after an incessantly entertaining and breathtaking opening half.

Darikwa was the not adjudged to have been fouled in the area just before the break and as both benches left the field, Stanley assistant Paul Stephenson and Spireite boss Paul Cook were sent to the stands for the second period.
 
HT: 3-0
 
Beattie brought on Windass for Webber at the break and the Spireites started the second half having to chase the game.

Ollie Banks was playing deeper with Jimmy Ryan on the right but the Spireites could only muster two tame headers from Gnanduillet and Richards, both heading straight at Bettinelli in the Stanley goal.

Paul Cook had to change things and duly did, with Jay O'Shea and Eoin Doyle replacing Gnanduillet and Ryan just before the hour mark. Richards went close again but his header was into the side-netting.

Ian Evatt moved upfront and Stanley made a double change with centre back Atkinson replacing Buxton and former Rotherham striker Odejayi replacing Gray.

There was some hope for travelling fans as the ball ended up in the Stanley net on three occasions - only for the linesman's flag to intervene, with Ollie Banks being disappointed on two occasions.

Ian Evatt (left), who had also seen a an earlier attempt ruled out, finally got on the score sheet after a neat swivel and shot following a defensive clearance found the back of the net.

3-1

The Spireites' skipper then nearly made it 3-2 moments later after he latched on to Roberts' corner kick, but his goal bound header was somehow cleared by Stanley's Aldred underneath his own crossbar.

Substitute Jay O'shea also went close late on, but Chesterfield left the Store First Stadium empty handed as they fell to a 3-1 defeat.

FT: 3-1


The Spireites have to regroup quickly ahead of a Tuesday night trip to Kingstonians ground to face AFC Wimbledon.
 
 
Accrington Stanley:
Bettinelli, Murphy, Joyce, Aldred, Winnard, Webber (Windass, 45), Hatfield, Molyneux, Gray (Odejayi, 71), Wilson, Buxton (Atkinson, 71)
Subs not used: Dawber, Naismith, Hazeldine, Bowerman.
 
Chesterfield:
Lee, Darikwa, Evatt (c), Cooper, Humphreys, Ryan (O'Shea, 57), Morsy,
Gardner (Richards, 35), Banks, Roberts, Gnanduillet (Doyle, 57)
Subs not used: Smith, Togwell, Hird.
 
Goals: Accrington Stanley (Molyneux 4', 8', 45+5') 3 - 1 Chesterfield (Evatt 85')
 
Attendance: 1,968 (601 Chesterfield)

Referee: Scott Mathieson

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

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