Monday 24th March 2014
by Howard Borrell

This was a game that many fans had tagged as "must win" - instead, Chesterfield had to settle for a point, against a hard working Mansfield side that deserved their share of the spoils, but ironically ended up consolidating their top three spot after both Fleetwood and Burton lost.

Both sides had good chances but in the final minute of added time, Ollie Palmer looked certain to seal it for the home side, instead, with the goal at his mercy, he fired wide of the right upright - much to the relief of the 1,500 travelling Spireites.

Spireites' Manager Paul Cook explained, "At this stage of the season, everyone wants to win and cement what you're doing. Sometimes you just have to be calm, shake hands and move on."

Mansfield started without thirteen goal Sam Clucas - who was not considered fit enough to start - on the bench and a line-up set out to thwart rather than create.

The Spireites made two changes from the side defeated at Plymouth in midweek with Sam Hird (left), replacing Jimmy Ryan in the middle of the park, to add a physical presence, and Daniel Kearns claimed a starting berth over Jay O'Shea.

It should have been the perfect start for the Spireites.

In the third minute, Marc Richards did well to round the home keeper, control the ball and fire home; instead Ryan Tafazolli saved the day for Mansfield with a stunning clearance to deny the unlucky Richards.

Cook ruefully commented, "The defender did really well to get back after Marc had done everything right!"

Daniel Kearns fitted in well and his pace caused all sorts of early problems.

After an inventive start the match became scrappy and lacked fluency, the home side content to concede possession and the Spireites unable to capitalise.

Richards (left), had a second great opportunity after 27 minutes, when he received inside the home penalty area but rushed his effort and fired high and wide.

As the thirty minute mark approached, Ollie Banks tried a cheeky lob from distance that Alan Marriott was equal to - and moments later Gary Roberts was brought down by John Dempster. He took the free kick himself but it was saved well by the home custodian.

The weather changed for the worse ten minutes before the interval as driving rain and a strong wind made constructive football difficult.

Mansfield went in at the interval the happier of the two sides, their defensive plan looking on track.

HT: 0-0

The teams reappeared to bright sunshine and the Spireites boss decided to add some sparkle to the Chesterfield attack.

On-loan starlet Mason Bennett replaced Banks and immediately looked the part but rushed his early opportunity and blasted over from 8 yards.

On 50 minutes, good work on the right by Kearns saw Bennett head the ball into the path of Tendayi Darikwa who flashed his effort recklessly over.

Mansfield stepped up a gear after a double substitution warned of their more enterprising intentions.

Clucas added an immediate threat as the home team went 4-4-2. Almost immediately, Adam Murray fired a pacy ball across goal but thankfully, no Stags player could get on the end.

The Spireites made two more changes with Armand Gnanduillet and Eoin Doyle entering the game and matching the home formation.

The game, despite neither side showing an ability to retain possession, had become an end-to-end spectacle with Clucas heading wide on 74 minutes and soon after, Roberts failing to get any significant power into his effort after Gnanduillet had headed the ball into his path.

Somehow, on 80 minutes, Mansfield failed to connect with three good openings that eventually saw Clucas fire over when it looked much easier to score.

There was still time for Bennett to force Marriott into a low down save before the miss of the match from Palmer ensured both sides shared the honours - and Tommy Lee (above), clinched his seventeenth League clean sheet of the season.

FT: 0-0

Spreites' boss Paul Cook explained: "My opinion on the game was that both teams had chances, but I never felt we were in any danger until the last five or ten minutes of the game.

"It's a point towards where we want to be. There's only seven games to go and they're a big seven games for us."

The Spireites now need to consolidate their position in the top three and have an early opportunity to add to their points haul in Tuesday's home fixture against Morecambe - but - in this roller coaster of a season, it won't be easy as they have yet to secure a home win over the Shrimps in their six encounters to date.

MANSFIELD TOWN:
Marriott, Dempster (Clucas, 63), Riley, Rhead, Tafazolli, Anthony Howell, Jennings, Beevers, Murray (c), McGuire (Meikle, 63), Palmer
Subs not used: Sutton, Stevenson, Speight, Clements, Daniel

CHESTERFIELD:
Lee, Darikwa, Evatt (c), Cooper, Humphreys, Morsy, Hird,
Kearns (Gnanduillet, 70), Banks (Bennett, 45), Roberts,
Richards (Doyle, 70)
Subs not used: Dunbavin, Smith, Ryan, O'Shea

Attendance: 5,941 (1,497 Chesterfield)

Referee: Darren Bond

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

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