Monday 22nd August 2016
by Howard Borrell
SkyBet League One
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Chesterfield
New Meadow, Saturday 20th August 2016, 3pm
 It was a reality check in Shropshire as the Spireites lost their first League fixture of the campaign.
An early lead through Jay O'Shea gave confidence and everything was going to plan until the Shrews equalised via a flag kick and a neat header from Junior Brown, one of the smallest players on the park. All square at the interval was about right.
Both sides wasted openings in the second period and the game looked to be drifting to a stalemate. Instead the home side exploited the Spireites' long standing Achilles heel as captain El-Abd's 84th minute header, from another corner, sealed victory.
On another day, Ched Evans may have gained the reward his endeavor deserved but instead, Micky Mellon had the last laugh over his former mentor from the days when they were both together at the Barnsley helm. The reality was that Mellon's early substitutions gave a new life to his side and the late Chesterfield changes failed to have the same effect - but with seventeen shots and eight on target - the Spireites really should have made their possession and clear cut openings count.
It wasn't a bad build-up to the Shrews fixture: a second consecutive home win that took the Spireites to the top of League One, albeit for just twenty four hours. Maybe Bolton's win was a blessing in disguise in that it kept our results to date in perspective and there just might be less pressure sitting one place below.
Last season, again early in the season, the Spireites produced one of their best on-the-road displays with a 2-1 win at the New Meadow that was more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests. This season, Shrewsbury had started sluggishly with no goals and just one point to their credit but ominously they claimed the scalp of Huddersfield Town in the 1st Round of the League Cup.
There was one piece of bad news to emerge on the injury front, Dan Jones suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury and will not be in contention; otherwise there were no new knocks and Danny Wilson named the same starting eleven as Lawrence Maguire joined the squad and Derek Daly stepped aside.
The weather at the kick-off was overcast and windy but the Spireites' start was cheerful as they looked to build on their early season form.
Early initiative came to nothing and the first opening of the game arose when Dion Donohue was dispossessed near the touch line by the impressive Moha Chouley, who then laid on a superb cross-field ball to Ivan Toney who could could only blast into the side netting.
 Shrewsbury pressed strongly without seriously threatening; the rain became incessant and the Spireites took over.
Ariyibi fell and looked for a penalty on the edge of the area but received no encouragement from referee Ben Toner; that disappointment was forgotten as, moments later, the Spireites edged ahead. A high ball got a touch from the alert Ched Evans and the ball ran to Jay O'Shea (left), who slotted home from twelve yards.
0-1
Chesterfield continued to push forward and Ariyibi forced a good save from Jayson Leutwiler who happily conceded a flag kick.
Two consecutive corners from Chouley caused danger in the Spireites' defence with defenders comfortable to concede corners. From Chouley's third - the home side were level - as Junior Brown headed home from close range to register the Shrew's first league goal and trigger a real contest.
1-1
The goal gave the home side a new impetus - but they failed to capitalise on a 25 yard free kick after Nolan was clumsy with his tackle.
The Spireites broke well with Ched Evans confident on the ball, his lay-off set up Dan Gardner but his effort flew wide of Leutwiler's right upright.
Gardner was the provider seconds later as he returned the favour for Evans whose strong run brought only a corner as the goalscorer Junior Brown decided safety was the best option. As the ball broke, Gardner's over enthusiastic challenge brought the games' first yellow card.
Not deterred, Gardner was soon denied by a superb save from Leutwiler after being set up by Jay O'Shea, who was similarly thwarted a minute later.
It had been a very competitive first period and the scoreline hardly reflected the chances created. Chesterfield almost took the lead with the last action of the three minutes added time. Jon Nolan's corner found the head of Sam Hird but his header was inches over the crossbar.
HT: 1-1
The first promise in the second half again came from Gardner. A strong run down the left produced a teasing ball into the box but sadly there were no takers. Moments later a cleverly chested ball from Evans found Ariyibi who ran into the box but failed to retain possession.
Ryan Fulton kept his cool as Chouley homed in on goal, he judged well and chested to safety. A minute later Chouley, who had been dominant throughout, was replaced by Ethan Jones.
Ched Evans claimed the free-kick a full 35 yards out; the distance seemed implausible but Leutwiler just got his fingers to a stunning strike. Within seconds, Gardner flicked forward only to see the flag against Ched Evans who would have burst through.
Again Ariyibi flashed a speeding ball across the box but it lacked direction and claimants. Soon after the goalscorer picked up a yellow as he clumsily felled Ariyibi.
 So close for the Spireites as Evatt's downward header from a left Nolan corner just needed a touch home. It didn't come!
Evans (left), went close again after O'Shea found him with a forty yard ball. He pushed forward to the bye-line, unleashed a stunning drive and forced another great save from the home keeper.
Gary Liddle took a knock but ensured both sets of players got a much needed breather. Shrewsbury made their final substitution from the re-start as they looked to break the deadlock and break it they did.
The Spireites conceded a corner on the right, Jim O'Brien took it and Adam El-Abd powered home a bullet header.
2-1
Curtis Morrison came into the game for the Spireites and immediately there was a new vigour. Ian Evatt tried his luck from fully thirty yards but his effort flew over. Kristian Dennis joined the fray in added time but Shrewsbury looked solid and could have added to their tally if Fulton hadn't saved at point-blank from Waring.
FT: 2-1
So it ended with a first League defeat for the Spireites - and maybe it was a little harsh on the overall balance of play - but there was too little threat in the second period to complain loudly.
CHESTERFIELD:
Fulton, McGinn, Hird, Liddle, Evatt, Nolan, Donohue, Gardner (Morrison, 87), O'Shea (Dennis, 90+3), Ariyibi, Evans
Subs not used: Raglan, Dimaio, Allinson, Simons, Maguire
REFEREE: Ben Toner
ATTENDANCE: 4,936
For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk
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