Chesterfield v Scunthorpe United

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Football League One

Chesterfield :
Roche, Bailey, Hazell, Downes, Picken, Hall (Jackson 74), Niven, Allott, Hurst, Folan, Larkin (Allison 84)
Subs not used:
Jordan, Kovacs, Lowry

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Hinds, Foster, Crosby (Byrne 48), Williams, Taylor, Sparrow, Baraclough (MacKenzie 85), Morris, Sharp, Keogh (McBreen 89)
Subs not used:
Mulligan, Lillis

SULSESC REPORT

by Andy Skeels at Recreation Ground

“JUST think”, said the bloke standing behind us on the open away terrace at Chesterfield, with the wind blowing a gale in our faces and the rain pouring down.

“I could be sitting at home in the warm right now watching Champions’ League on the telly. The wife would have brought my tea in and I’d just be getting another beer out of the fridge. I’m really glad I’m here instead!”

His comments raised a smile if nothing else from those around him, as the rainwater ran down the back of our necks and United laboured to a 1-0 away win.

At least we got the three points in the end. Getting drenched for a 2-1 defeat would not have been as enjoyable.

Myself and Mr. Sumner had made the journey north up the M1 for this match and, for once, given the midweek traffic, we arrived in time (6.45 pm) to squeeze in a quick pint with Messrs. Dunn and Pettitt in the Rutland before the 7.30 pm kick-off.

There was even time to pick up a bag of chips on the walk to the ground as we arrived in perfect time at 7.29!

The game was far from being a classic, the strong wind restricting both teams’ efforts throughout. United started much the brighter and took a deserved lead when the ever alert Billy Sharp reacted quickest to home ‘keeper Roche spilling a shot from Matt Sparrow and stabbed the ball home.

Ultimately, it was sufficient to give the Iron maximum points, with Chesterfield – who had knocked Manchester City out of the Carling Cup on this very ground only seven nights earlier – rarely posing much of a threat to a stout Iron rearguard.

Cleveland Taylor should have made the game safe in the second-half when he somehow failed to make proper contact with a deep cross from Williams and, from close range, saw his weak effort dribble tamely wide.

Thankfully, it mattered not in the end as, despite the usual pessimistic anticipation of a late Chesterfield equaliser spoiling our night, it failed to materialise and our surge up the League One table continued unabated.