Notts County 3-0 Chesterfield

Notts County 3-0 Chesterfield
Vanarama National League
Saturday 1st February 2020

Notts County cruised to success in this derby day clash at Meadow Lane; boosting their play-off aspirations whilst simultaneously leaving the Spireites’ survival hopes hanging in the balance.

Enzio Boldewijn bagged the opener with a thunderbolt strike infront of the TV cameras - not for the first time this term, before Kyle Wootton, who has been a rejuvenated figure since joining the Magpies from Scunthorpe United a few months back, claimed the last two goals.

It was a fairly open game with plenty of attempts and the decisive moment involved wantaway Notts ‘keeper Ross Fitzsimons who saved Scott Boden’s weak spot-kick just before half-time.

Had the Spireites forward converted from 12 yards then it might well have been another of those occasions where the home faithful dished out some old school, old fashioned ear-bashings to the players on the pitch. Instead, they were delerious by the final whistle - knowing their team had consolidated their spot in the play-off zone and that promotion remains a very realistic possibility.

Fitzsimons, expected to join Chesterfield anytime in the next few days, ironically turned in a really impressive performance and deserved the ‘Man of the Match’ award for his professionalism alone during the 90 minutes. The shot-stopper was loaned to the Spireites only a few weeks ago but recalled after regular ‘keeper Sam Slocombe suffered an injury. He still wants to join Chesterfield and said as much in the days leading up to this clash; thus provoking some rather interesting pre-match speculation but his display was near-immaculate.

Ahead of kick-off, there was a rapturous minute-long applause for ex-Spireites player Jordan Sinnott, who tragically lost his life last week.

Notts began well; playing on the front foot and dictating things and they created the better openings during the first quarter-of-an-hour aa Cal Roberts went close and Connor Rawlinson’s header connected with the frame of the visitors’ goal.

The Spireites were definitely ‘Undr the Cosh’ (to give a mention to a very popular podcast) and were soon saved again by the woodwork with Enzio Boldewijn being the unlucky party, direct from a free-kick.

As the midway point in the first half passed by, Chesterfield gradually began to get a foothold in the game and pose a few problems for the hosts - mainly from long-throws.

Most of the action, however, was still occurring just infront of the Kop Stand - the end which Notts were attacking, but at times they just lacked decisiveness and ‘proper’ telling movement to get into the right areas despite having more possession. Basically, it was good (to a point) but nobody was gambling enough when the ball went into the box.

Soon, just five minutes before half-time, it looked as if Neal Ardley’s side would be punished when Richard Brindley, naively, tugged David Buchanan’s shirt inside the box - giving the Spireites player a perfect excuse to go to ground (and thus making it an easy decision for the referee to award the spot-kick).

Brindley was yellow carded and following a minute-or-so delay, Boden then stepped up to take the penalty. However, his effort was weak, low, slightly to Fitzsimons’ left-hand side - meaning it was a comfortable save for his soon-to-be team-mate who clutched the ball into his grasp before anyone could follow-up on the rebound.

Personally, though I felt the first half display hadn’t been too bad by the hosts, the natives were quite disgruntled at the interval - voicing their discontent on the concourses and unhappy; feeling their side need to do a hell of a lot more to get what they seemingly expected to be an easy win.

Even though Notts fans cab be notoriously cynical; there’s a reason why they’ve gone through several managers in recent years, in the second half, they did turn on the style and ultimately romped to the three points.

Boldewijn, who got the sponsors’ award for ‘Man of the Match’ got things going when he was allowed to advance forward, unopposed, and rifled home a thunderous 20-25 yard strike on 52 minutes. It was what Notts deserved, given their play, and suddenly the home crowd could barely contain their excitement.

Nevertheless, things could have twisted sharply back in favour of the visitors had Tom Denton’s attempt just before the hour mark not cannoned back off the upright with Fitzsimons beaten.

It was a crucial moment because in the next attack (at the other end), the talisman-figure that is Wootton stooped low inside the area to take advantage of some slack all-round marking and get his head to a right-wing cross - diverting the ball into the net.

Even though there was half-an-hour or so remaining, the second goal was a signal for many Spireites fans to head for the exits. All things considered, it was difficult to blame them!

The old Doncaster Rovers youth team front two duo of Liam Mandeville and Jack McKay were soon thrown into the fray, as the visitors began the search for an unlikely comeback. However, though McKay had some neat and tidy touches, neither player looked physical or dangerous enough to really pose the significant problems which Chesterfield desperately needed to do at this point.

It wasn’t quite one-way traffic for the hosts, but they were now strutting around with confidence on the Meadow Lane pitch - finding space, teasing and tormenting their counterparts, and looking the most likely to add a third goal.

Eventually it came when Boldewijn’s shot after a left-sided run was parried by Shwan Jalal straight to the feet of Wootton who couldn’t miss from a few yards out. It was 3-0, good night Chesterfield, and more of the visiting fans opted to leave than stomach the remaining quarter-of-an-hour or so that was left to play.

Fitzsimons did routine bits of work well in the closing minutes as the team in blue did at least search for a consolation goal, but it wasn’t to be.

The Spireites, officially, remain in the relegation zone in 21st spot - a position which could yet turn out to be a safe one depending on where Bury get readmitted in the football pyramid. However, AFC Fylde are just three points behind them with two games in hand - meaning it’ll be nerve-jangling all the way to the final day because I’m as sure as hell that the Spireites don’t have the capabilities to properly elevate themselves to a totally safe position, like they did under John Sheridan last season.

In a lot of ways it’s sad to see what Chesterfield Football Club has become. Barring a miracle promotion (which simply isn’t going to happen), they’ll lose EFL funding for their academy at the end of the season, meaning it’ll be a while before anything close to another Joe Rowley comes through the ranks. That’s bad enough - relegation will just tip the club into utter oblivion altogether, attendances will sink even further (and they’re already at their lowest point in decades) and it’s shocking that they’ve been run into the ground in such a way by their owners.

Whatever happens in regards to survival, Liam Mandeville will still be at the Proact Stadium next-term as he signed a two-year contract last summer. He’s either done very well (or very badly) for himself with that deal - given the current calamitous state of the club, I really can’t work out which it is!