7 goal thriller

Chesterfield 5-2 Darlington

Youngster Scott Boden scored a double as Chesterfield continued their stunning home form with a 5-2 win over Darlington at a rainy Saltergate. The Spireites have only dropped 2 points at home in the league this season beating Notts County in the process.

The first chance fell to Chesterfield’s Wade Small who headed just wide from a Mark Allott free-kick. Immeditaly the visitors reply, a smart move was spoilt at the end by a poor Gary Smith shot which nearly went out of the ground.

Chesterfield took control of the game and came close through Jack Lester and new loan signing Kieran Djilali. Eventually the deadlock was broken, a David Perkins corner fell to veteran defender Robert Page who booted the ball past Darlington keeper Nick Liversedge. Right on half-time it was 2-0, another Perkins corner was poorly cleared by defence and the ball went to Mark Allott whose powerful shot made sure that Chesterfield would have a clear lead going into the break.

Robert Page

Just before the hour mark Darlington got a goal back, when goalkeeper Tommy Lee went to kick the ball upfield he misjudged the bounce and an opposing player was ready to tackle him, Lee sped past him but quickly lost control of the ball and 1 of the 2 youngsters on loan from Aston Villa James Collins tackled him and had an open net to shoot at, he shot perfectly into the top corner and Darlington were back in it.

After an end-to-end spell Chesterfield restored their 2 goal lead, a poor clearance by Ian Miller found Kieran Djilali who sped past 2 defenders and shot into the bottom corner to relieve the pressure. Darlington struggled to find a way back in the game with Tommy Lee making some excellent saves to keep out James Collins and Simon Thomas.

Lee could do nothing about Darlington’s second goal, after some superb passes David Davis’ shot was saved by Lee but the rebound was easily scored by the other player on loan from Aston Villa, Jonathon Hogg.

Then the substitution which would prove pivital happened, Wade Small off, Scott Boden on. Boden showed the experienced players how to score, as Jack Lester was tackled Boden took the ball, turned and scored which certainly meant the 3 points would be at Saltergate on Saturday night. The result was even more certain when Boden finished again, Jack Lester turned 2 players then sent the ball across the box to Boden who scored a very easy goal and kept Chesterfield’s unbeaten home record intact.

John Sheridan said after the game, “The most pleasing thing is the three points. They made if very difficult, and I knew they would, so to come out 5-2 winners is very pleasing, once we scored the first goal, I thought we were in control from there, I would have liked to keep a clean sheet though.”

CHESTERFIELD (4-4-2): Lee 5, Little 6, Page 7, Breckin 7, Picken 7, Talbot 8 (Lewis 90), Allott 8, Perkins 8 (Niven 80), DJILALI 8, Lester 8, Small 7 (Boden 88). Subs (not used): Crossley, Gray, Austin, Hall

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Liversedge 4, Barnes 5, Miller 4, Giddings 5, J.Smith 4 (Collins 6), Hogg 6, Davis 5, G. Smith 4 (Gray 3), Thomas 5, Main 4 (Mulligan 5). Subs (not used): Jones, Bower, Groves, Burn

Kieran Djilali in Palace colours