Wednesday 7 May 2014

The Proact Stadium – Chesterfield

3rd May 2014


Chesterfield 2-1 Fleetwood Town


Having been present at the Last-Match-at-Saltergate bash back in 2010, I thought it was high time I gate-crashed another Spireites party: this time the clinching of the 2013/14 League Two Championship title. 

There were, as it turned out, remarkable similarities between the two matches.  For in both, Chesterfield one down after putting in an insipid first period, upped a few gears after the break to win 2-1.  And whilst I am sure a huge percentage of those watching this afternoon attended both games, I think I am correct that only Andy Talbot and Tommy Lee played in both.

http://ian38018.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/chesterfield-saltergate.html

Before making my way to Chesterfield’s new(ish) home The Proact Stadium, I detoured to the site of Saltergate to see if anything remained of the old ground.  Lots of new houses in varying states of construction where the pitch had been, although I noted the name had been retained, and there did remain what looked to have been part of the wall in one of the corners, but all else was gone.

Saltergate site 2014

A length of wall from the old ground?

The Proact Stadium - Chesterfield

The Proact Stadium - Chesterfield

The Proact Stadium - Chesterfield

The Proact Stadium - Chesterfield


At this afternoon's match, nerves I am sure played a part, but Chesterfield were pretty dreadful in the first half.  Visiting winger Gareth Evans gave Spireites full-back Andy Talbot a torrid time, whilst the large-boned Jon Parkin was finding time to show some remarkable deftness of foot for a big bloke.  For the home lot Tendayi Darikwa’s skills caught the eye, but he singularly failed to cause any real alarm in the visiting defence.

But two quick goals just after the break from Sam HIRD and Gary ROBERTS settled the business.  For Fleetwood, clearly having their upcoming play-off match in mind pretty much appeared to lose interest in proceedings at this point, as evidenced by their sticking to a rigid 4-5-1, and making little real attempt to chase the match,

And when it became apparent York City and Newport were scuppering the attempts of Chesterfield's title rivals, the contest just sort of tamely meandered to a close. 


Not that anyone inside the Proact Stadium seemed to mind.

Jon Parkin - Fleetwood Town

Chesterfield v Fleetwood 2014

Sam Hird's equaliser 1

Sam Hird's equaliser 2

Sam Hird's equaliser 3

Chesterfield's Jay O'Shea watches Fleetwood's Matty Blair do some weird stuff.

Maxwell saves from Smith


Time-up.

Time-up.

Panorama of The Proact Stadium - Chesterfield

The curved roofed Main Stand

No comments:

Post a Comment