A dramatic late goal from Jimmy Ryan stole the three points away from Rovers in a frantic local derby in Chesterfield.
Chesterfield 2 (Morsy 45’, Ryan 87’)Rovers 2 (Coppinger 2’, Butler 9’)
The Proact Stadium, Chesterfield
Saturday 31st January 2015
SkyBet League One
Both teams started the match playing at a high tempo and it came as no surprise that there was an early goal.
A lovely ball over the top from Reece Wabara reached James Coppinger in the box. The winger had plenty of time to weigh up his options and smashed it into the top left of the goal for his 6th of the season.
Chesterfield almost responded instantly through Sam Clucas but he messed up a huge chance following a Dan Gardner cross from the left after he scuffed the ball from inside the area.
Rovers fans must have been in heaven two minutes later though as new signing Uche Ikpezu showed his ability running down the right and winning a corner. The result was a second goal as Harry Forrester’s fine cross was met by the head of Andy Butler a few yards out leaving Tommy Lee helpless.
It was almost 3-0 on the 11th minute as a low cross from Main was smothered by Lee in front of Ikpeazu. The loanee was again close to scoring his first for Rovers in the 24th minute as he turned in the area but couldn’t latch onto the end of a Paul Keegan header from a corner.
It was worrying times for Rovers fans as Captain James Coppinger was substituted following and injury and the home side began to pile on the pressure. Jay O'Shea missed a glaring opportunity in front of goal in the 36th minute. Clucas broke down the left, put in a fizzing cross but he blazed it over the bar.
The pressure eventually paid off though as Chesterfield grabbed a goal back just before half time. Rovers failed to close down Samy Morsy and the midfielder drove a fine ball over the defence to find Eoin Doyle in the area and the striker made no mistake, slotting the ball coolly into the bottom left corner.
HT – Chesterfield 1 Rovers 2
Chesterfield had scored 3 goals in their last three home games and Rovers started the second half desperate to extend their lead.
In the 53rd minute Main broke through the defence and was one-on-one with the keeper but Tommy Lee came out on top diving low to his right.
Chesterfield instantly responded a couple of minutes later but a long range shot was superbly saved by Bywater. A goalmouth scramble ensued from the corner but Rovers managed to clear.
The hour mark presented Rovers with a couple of great chances. A counter attack presented the first after Tendayi Darikwa gave the ball away. Kyle Bennett was played in down the right, he sprinted down the line and found Ikpeazu who was thwarted by Lee.
He wasn’t done there though. Moments later the new signing, who was dangerous all afternoon, found space again and unleashed a curling effort at goal only to see his effort hit the post from 20 yards out.
Chesterfield seemed desperate for a penalty but were turned down a minute later for the third time in the match.
The game was end-to-end as the Spireites continued to press but were unable to create any clear cut chances apart from corners. Rovers were trying to catch them on the break but looked happy to run the clock down when they could.
However, after sustained pressure from the home side, Rovers were left heartbroken in the 87th minute. Former Rover Sam Hird lobbed a ball into the box, Eoin Doyle headed it back across the face of goal and it managed to find Jimmy Ryan lurking at the back post to score.
The home side found a second wind from this and arguably created their best chances in injury time. First Charlie Raglan was denied by Bywater before Clucas swung his foot at the ball but his shot sailed wide.
Rovers managed to hold on to take home a deserved point on their first trip to the Proact Stadium.
Team line ups-
Chesterfield: Lee, Jones, Raglan, Hird, Darikwa, Morsy, Ryan, Clucas, O'Shea (Humphreys), Gardner (Evatt), Doyle
Subs not used: Wright, Harrison, Banks, Dieseruvwe, Ariyibi
Cautions: O’Shea, Morsy
Rovers: Bywater, Stevens, Wabara, Butler, McCullough, Keegan, Wellens, Coppinger, (Bennett 31’, Tyson 64’) Forrester, Ikpeazu (Furman 73’), Main
Subs not used: Marosi, McCombe, Wakefield , Robinson
Cautions: Bennett
Attendance- 7839