Chesterfield 4 v Derby 5 - Rams Triumph In Nine Goal Thriller
Sunday, 25th Jul 2010 08:57 by I.Saw

Nine goals, two penalties one scored one saved and a brand new stadium, the Rams the victors by a single goal. You certainly get value for money in Derbyshire.

Sometimes it's difficult to know where to start. Chesterfield's new stadium, two gentle arching stands, a baby Huddlesfield in the making. A Tesco's Extra, with a 3 hour parking limit (if only we had known), almost built on.

Nine goals, the Spireites two up at half time and by far the better team. Two penalties one scored by Commons and one saved by Bywater. A sparkling second half comeback with the Derby scoring three before a last goal for Chesterfield closed the scoring at 5-4 in favour of the Rams. It's all a far cry from the pre-prepared fallback of talking about needing a Map Of Derbyshire and where's a Muckram Wakes LP when you need it.

Well that's a start of a fashion I guess, so what did we get at the new home of Chesterfield?

We got in no particular order; a billiard ball emerald green surface, stands with seats that allowed even the tallest supporter legroom, Meat & Potato Pies which were choker full of melt in your mouth chunky Stewing Steak courtesy of Jacksons pies. We also had beer at £2.70 a pint and hot drinks at £1.30, one in the eye for the catering at PridePark and rumours of £3.40 pints in 2010/11.

Of course no new ground is complete without stewards ejecting fans and the b2net was no exception as early baths were taken by the East and North Stand supporters.

On the pitch the Rams make a slow start, Brayford caught inside, the wrong side of goal, and Chesterfield's number nine Craig Davies reacts superbly keeping his eyes on the ball as it comes down before firing across the keeper and into the net with barely a quarter of an hour on the clock.

Commons, fires wide, then wide again before Porter and Kris battle for the same ball. Commons gets there and the scores are level on twenty three.

A kick-off. A corner. Number six, Simon Ford is gifted a free header and Chesterfield regain the lead. Sweets and Babies spring to mind.

Derby for all their possession labour, it's difficult to find meaningful space as the blues close down then spread themselves on the break. Indeed the (ex) Crooked Spireites increase the lead as Mark Allott, the number seven, turns and lashes the ball into the corner of net from twenty five yards. The goal was well taken but the complete dearth of white shirts around him a major contributing factor.

In perhaps only the second shot on target in the First Half, Doyle heads Commons cross into the Chesterfield net. Three two then to the home side at the interval.

Straight from the restart the tempo was upped. A passing flowing move involving fully five Derby players sees Porter adjusted on side and the ball coolly slotted home. It was without a doubt the best move of the match as the Rams levelled the scores at three all.

Never a quiet moment though as left back Roberts is adjudged to have handled in the area, a soft decision. Bywater though guesses correctly as he dives to his left and the penalty is saved.

A Commons corner falls to Brayford who sidefoots home, appalling defending, a theme which both sides are well versed in. Four swiftly becomes five as Green tumbles in the box and Commons sends the keeper the wrong way to seal a two goal lead for the visitors.

Amongst the substitues, the final one for Derby is Saul Deeny replacing Green in midfield all that's missing are the jumpers for goalposts as we are transformed into schoolboys summer holiday football.

Derek Niven pulls one back to make the final scoreline 4-5. A fantastic goal flurry to christen a new stadium.

After the match Nigel Clough spoke to the official site:

"We are seeing encouraging signs but we want to see two recognised central defenders to see if the system (4-2-3-1) supports the way we want to play. The amount of goals we conceded is a concern, but pre-season is all about learning things".

"We would rather mistakes and the like happen now and rather than when the season starts; that is the nature of pre-season. But until we have two fit central defenders out there it is hard to judge the merits of the system we play".

"We are creating chances and scoring plenty of goals, but we do look a little exposed at times. Today we have to take into account this is our fourth game of the week and we have done a lot of travelling".

"We have two weeks to get sharper now ahead of Leeds."

"I hope the fans saw the encouraging signs; I am sure they enjoyed the attacking football but we won't be involved in 5-4 games every week!"

Teams:

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Hulse (Moxey 64), Anderson (O'Brien 71), Roberts, Savage, Bailey, Green (Deeney 88), Doyle (Cywka 58), Commons (Martin 71), Porter (Varney 71)

Chesterfield: Lee (Redmond), Hunt (Niven), Breckin (Page), Ford, Morris (Timmins), Mattis (Gray), Allott (Clay), Whitaker, Davies (Bowery), Lester (Boden), Talbot (Darikwa)

Subs Not Used: Adcock, Granger

Attendance: 6,833

Referee: R Booth

Next Pre-Season Match: v Stoke City, Pride Park - Tues 27th July 7:45pm

Photo: Action Images

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