Chesterfield 1 United 0
United put in another more than decent away performance at Chesterfield but in the end a single goal was enough to give the home side all three points. The match wasn't full of clear cut chances but the Gulls did create enough opportunities to have grabbed at least a point against a team with a very strong home record and hopes of being in the promotion shake-up come May.
The first drama of the day came long before kick-off after overnight rain left the Saltergate groundstaff with a huge job to clear the playing surface of standing water but they did an excellent job to leave the match referee with a much easier decision to make than may have presented itself.
Bucks made three changes from the side that was beaten by Brighton in the F.A. Cup two weeks ago; Nicky Wroe, Chris Robertson & Chris Zebroski all returned to the starting line-up which meant that Mark Ellis and Elliot Benyon dropped to the bench and Tyrone Thompson missed out altogether due to illness. New signing Eunan O'Kane found a place on the bench and there was also a spot for Saul Halpin with the space freed up by Tim Sills' move to Stevenage on Friday.
United soaked up some early pressure from the home side and presented a solid defensive barrier that Chesterfield struggled to pierce and the Gulls should have taken the lead when a far post header from Scott Rendell, via a Jake Thomson cross, struck the inside of the post and then bounced along the goal line before going to safety. Arguably, it wasn't United's best chance to score in the match especially after Jake Thomson looked to be harshly judged offside in the second half with the score goalless: Nicky Wroe slipped a pass toward the Gulls' winger and it clearly took a touch of the last Chesterfield defender before Jake rifled the ball past Lee in the home goal but the assistant flagged and the goal was struck off. Along with a marvellous late save from Lee in the Chesterfield goal, they were opportunities that Bucks thought enough to secure some points with: 'There were some big chances for us today, Scott Rendell's header hit the inside of the post which was a glorious chance for us and I'm not sure if Jake (Thomson) was offside because the linesman gave it very late after a good finish but we had another great chance later on and their 'keeper has pulled off a very good save. It's an old cliché but goals do change games and we know that if we had scored one we would have got at least a draw and maybe gone on to win.'
Michael Poke was certainly the busier of the two 'keepers during the first half but Chesterfield weren't carving paths to his goal through the Gulls' defence and as the match wore on United were more than a match for their hosts. The second half started with United clearly the better side and Adam Smith causing the Chesterfield defence so many problems from his left back position that their only mode of stopping him was to dump him on the floor at the first opportunity. The offside decision that so frustrated United came in the 68th minute and just four minutes later the mood in the camp wasn't improved when Chesterfield took the lead. Wayne Carlisle made an attempt to intercept a free-kick but the ball unluckily dropped to Green who centred for new signing Conlon to beat Michael Poke with a left foot shot; it was harsh on United but they had enough about them to raise themselves for a twenty minute effort to grab something from the game.
Elliot Benyon was introduced in place of Chris Zebroski with fifteen minutes remaining and moments later Nicky Wroe shot wide of goal with Lee struggling to stop the ball had it been on target. Chesterfield cleared off the line shortly after from another Wroe effort after Carlisle had a shot blocked as United pressed for a leveller. Skipper Chris Hargreaves was booked for decent and soon after made way for debutant Eunan O'Kane who showed enough in the last few minutes to please his new boss: 'Eunan has lots of quality, he is a player that makes a lot of time for himself on the ball and we will work with him on his strengths because he is a very good player.
United played well in the conditions against a team that will be relieved to see the back of them after two hard fought matches this season. One win apiece may seem fair to the casual observer but United probably played better in this match than they did during the season opening win but go home with nothing. Bucks was certainly in a positive mood despite the result: 'I was pleased with the players today and I'm disappointed to lose the game, it was a sort of freak goal really with the ball cannoning off Wayne Carlisle and putting them straight in. Other than the goal I don't remember Chesterfield troubling us too much although they had quite a bit of the ball early in the first half but I thought we did very well.
'We have been to Bournemouth and to Chesterfield and we probably aren't expected to get anything at either venue but with the progression we have made as a club and as a squad we expect to get something. Away against both teams we have deserved to get something from the games for sure but it doesn't always happen in football. I have seen a number of pleasing things today and I'm very happy with the players.'
Paul also gave a hint to possible moves next week after the transfer of striker Tim Sills to Stevenage left the Gulls with only three first team forwards: 'We have three forwards at the club and it is fair to say that we are a little light in that department right now after Tim (Sills) moved on. Tim's move was very good business with us getting good money for him and Tim and his family getting some security for the next eighteen months. It does leave me with some scope to go and get another body in but it has got to be the right kind of addition to the squad, we are so close at the moment to getting things right on the pitch, if you look back over the last sixteen or seventeen matches the players have been really at it.
'We have brought Eunan in and I have got room left in the budget to bring someone else in, especially up front and maybe another defender because we are quite weak in the full back area if anything happens to Mansell or Smith with Kevin Nicholson talking to clubs at the moment. You might see one or two new faces next week.'
