Chesterfield v Scunthorpe United

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Football League One

Chesterfield :
Beckwith, Bailey, Blatherwick (O'Hare 51), O'Hara, Picken, Niven, Allott, Downes, Hurst, Allison (Folan 65), Larkin
Subs not used:
Heath, Hall, Smith

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Stanton (Byrne 63), Crosby, Foster, Rose, Hinds, Sparrow, Baraclough, Taylor (Beagrie 61), Torpey, Keogh
Subs not used:
Goodwin, Ehui, Evans

SULSESC REPORT

by Andy Skeels at Recreation Ground

A 10.25 pm departure from St. Pancras saw the travelling SULSESC contingent make good time for a lunchtime arrival into our pub of choice in Chesterfield, the Rutland, which lies in the shadow of the famous Crooked Spire.

Arriving in some trepidation due to worrying advance news from Vic Duke that the Rutland had been removed from the 2006 Good Beer Guide, our fears were fortunately unfounded as a healthy selection of ales was still available and Vic’s contingency plans were not required.

Indeed, the biggest problem in the Rutland was trying to find a table large enough to accommodate us all, such was the turn-out of SULSESC members in Derbyshire!

Suitably replenished, it was on to the match, arriving in perfect time at 2.59 pm (no VDT wasted whatsoever) to select a decent vantage point at the front of a well-filled away end right behind the goal.

Within a minute-and-a-half of the kick-off, we were perhaps wishing we’d remained in the comfort of the Rutland as Chesterfield forced three corners in the opening 90 seconds and also had the ball in the back of the net, the goal being fortunately ruled out from our point of view for offside.

It seemed the strong wind – behind Chesterfield’s backs in the first-half – was having an affect and it was no surprise considering the Iron’s poor start that we went a goal down on 15 minutes.

There was little improvement for the remainder of the half and we were thankful to reach the interval without the defence being breached for a second time.

Things could only get better, we thought, with the wind in our favour in the second period.

They did. It took just two minutes after the resumption for Andy Keogh to hit the post and only three for Richard Hinds to equalise with a header.

Now it was Chesterfield’s turn to struggle against the wind as United took command. The arrival of substitute Peter Beagrie was quickly followed by the winning goal as his corner was headed home by Andy Crosby.

It proved to be the winner as United made it three wins from their last four away matches and moved nine points away from the relegation zone. Surely we’re safe now?