Chesterfield came and conquered, though they needed a bit of luck for their first goal and a crooked Spireite for their second. How apt you feel, yet both sides had a hero and a villain that would play pivotal roles for their respective sides. These starring roles would fall to Imps on loan Sunderland keeper Carson and for the Spireites, 15 goal Davies.
On 15 minutes Carson failed to control a Kelly back pass, haplessly playing in the advancing Davies who lobbed him superbly before side footing coolly straight down the middle. On 20 minutes Carson got his hero’s cape and gloves out to deny Davies his brace with a superb penalty save to his left. He held that well struck penalty in his hands and perhaps the very destiny of the game itself as he made a superb save from a Davies header reminiscent of Banks as well as a drive from Djilali, although it was hard to see from our end.
The Spireites play deserved their lead with the Imps midfield running around in circles, mesmerised by the quality and movement. Jealous you bet but beaten no, as we forced numerous corners as we earned the right to play as the half and indeed game wore on. Danny Hone was having a massive game against the confident Davies with Watts also clearing up the scraps.
But with just 6 minutes left Davies turned villain to blatantly block out Carson with the cretinous officials looking on. Even before the corner was taken he stood in front of Carson arms aloft backing in whilst our central defenders failed to get between them Whitaker chipped over a beaty to be fair for Holden to head home from six yards out, across our obstructed keeper and into the far left hand corner.
We had been looking good for the preceding 10 minutes with Carayol looking useful against tiring legs. Incredibly the idiotic official then grew a conscience and booked Davies for of all things persistent infringement. Thank heavens for small mercies and well done to the Spireites who in truth deserved the three points over all.
Lincoln City 0 - 2 Chesterfield (HT 0 - 1)
Scorers - Spireites: Davies 15 Holden 84
Ref: Lewis
Att: 4,172 (3030 Imps 1,142 Spireites - allegedly looked a lot more)
Teams & Schemes
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Kelly Hone Watts Hunt
Howell O’Keefe Fuseini McCallum
Grimes (yellow) Facey
Substitution Fuseini on for Hoyte (12) Carayol on For Howell (72) Hutchinson on for McCallum (78)
Substitutes 1 Anyon, 2 Green, 19 Clapham, 7 Carayol, 31 Fuseini, 27 Hutchinson, 39 Spencer
Chesterfield 4-4-2
Lee
Holden Ford Breckin Robertson
Boden Niven (yellow) Morris (yellow) Djilali
Davies (yellow) Talbot
Substitutions
Whitaker on for Ford (27) Lester on for Boden (81) Lowry on for Djilali (90+2)
Substitutes
26 Redmond, 4 Lowry, 12 Griffiths, 10 Whitaker, 24 Clay, 14 Lester, 21 Bowery
The Match Stats
Lincoln City 50% Possession Chesterfield 50%
Lincoln City 5 Shots on target Chesterfield 8
Lincoln City 4 Shots off target Chesterfield 6
Lincoln City 4 Saves Chesterfield 3
Lincoln City 2 Offsides Chesterfield 3
Lincoln City 9 Corners Chesterfield 1
Lincoln City 9 Fouls Chesterfield 14
Lincoln City 1 Yellows Chesterfield 3