Match report from Official Site

FULL TIME FROM SALTERGATE

CHESTERFIELD 0

BARNSLEY 0

BARNSLEY blew the chance of moving further into the play off pack by wasting a host of golden chances to win the game after repeatedly carving open Chesterfield in the second half.

Reds boss Andy Ritchie rang the changes as he looked to get back to winning ways after two draws with Nicky Wroe, Dale Tonge, Robbie Williams, Daniel Nardiello and debutant Tommy Wright coming into the side at the expense of Matt Carbon, Bobby Hassell, Brian Howard, Paul Hayes and Marc Richards.

Howard, Hayes and Richards were named amongst the substitutes alongside fit again midfielder Richard Kell who's inclusion in the squad gave Barnsley a huge boost.

Chesterfield started the stronger and pushed the Reds back almost from the off. Paul Hall caused no ends of problems down the right on four minutes before crossing well to give Adam Smith a free header but his looping effort was easy for Nick Colgan.

It took 13 minutes but finally Barnsley managed to turn to screw on the Spirites with Nardiello dancing his way past two challenges and into the area before forcing a decent low save from Barry Roche.

Again Nardiello did well on 17 minutes to force a corner. Jacob Burns swung a great cross over and again it was Nardiello who managed to get his head to the ball but his effort flew wide of the far post.

The Spirites came back into a scrappy game on 25 minutes as Derek Nivem managed to get the better of Neil Austin before crossing but again Smith wasted a free header by putting his effort well wide from ten yards.

Chesterfield were keeping hold of possession although Hall took advantage of a blatant handball to find Niven in space on 28 minutes but again the midfielder could not find his range and curled a shot high and wide.

Things never really got going for the Reds as a string of misplaced passes and poor decision making littered a disappointing opening half. Nardiello almost got things right on 38 minutes after being scythed down by Sammy Clingan. The striker picked himself up but saw his goalbound free kick deflect away for a corner.

Chesterfield started the second half as they finished the first with all the possession and another looping header from Smith straight at Colgan on 47 minutes.

Wright should really have marked his Barnsley debut with a goal on 53 minutes as he beat the Spirites offside trap to race onto Austin's pass before curling in a great effort which beat Roche but flew inches wide of the far post.

The Reds went close again on 66 minutes after substitute Howard had been upended 30 yards from goal. Williams stepped up to hammer a curling free kick at goal but Roche was again in the right place to turn the ball over the top.

Wright again should have scored on 71 minutes as he beat the offside trap once more to race onto another Austin through ball but this time the big striker shot straight at Roche with only the keeper to beat.

Chesterfield only real chance of the game came on 80 minutes as Caleb Folan outfought Austin the break into the area before firing across goal but inches wide of Colgan's far post.

Wright must have run over a black cat on his way to Saltergate as again the striker should have opened his tally for the Reds on 81 minutes as he rose highest to meet Burns' corner from just seven yards but his header went sailing over.

Again Wright was almost the right man for the Reds as he raced past the Spirites defence on 84 minutes to reach Hayes' flick but was only able to lob the ball over the crossbar under pressure from Reuben Hazell.

Barnsley created and wasted another gilt edged chance to win the game on 89 minutes as Richards did well to send Hayes clean through but the striker could only fire high over the top with just Roche to beat.

CHESTERFIELD: Roche, Blatherwick, Niven, Allott, Larkin (Folan 45), Hall, Nicholson, Smith (N'Toya 75), Hazell, Picken, Clingan.

Subs: Muggleton, O'Hare, Downes.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Reid, Burns, Austin, Wroe, Shuker (Richards 81), Tonge, Williams, Devaney (Howard 55), Nardiello (Hayes 70), Wright.

Subs: Flinders, Kell.

 

Match report from Chesterfield Official Site

Chesterfield kept the same starting line-up that came back from Forest with a point on Saturday, adding Tcham N'Toya to the bench after Kevan Hurst's return to Bramall Lane. Barnsley made four changes to the side that drew with Huddersfield, leaving their usual strike force on the bench and handing a start to new man Tommy Wright.

Both sides were defending a record of one defeat in their last thirteen games and Chesterfield began the brighter. Neat interplay between Smith, Hall and Niven found Allott, who was fouled by Wright. The free kick was headed out for a corner but the delivery was poor. Smith headed Hall's cross goalwards on 4 after a fine Picken tackle won the ball in midfield, but the keeper made a comfortable catch.

Larkin found Hall on the right on 6 and the winger was unceremoniously pulled to the ground by Williams as he went round him. Barnsley came back into it and Blatherwick cleared a corner at the second attempt on 12. Nardiello worked his way past Blatherwick and Niven but Roche got it away with his legs at the expense of another corner.

Hall clipped the ball forward for Larkin to chase on 19 but the keeper advanced confidently to claim the ball. Smith went down the left on 21 and found the overlapping Nicholson, whose cross was deflected for a corner; this was cleared as far as Niven, whose return was held by the goalie.

Niven did well on 25 to retain the ball after a firm tackle and crossed, but Smith headed over. The Tykes came again and forced as couple more corners, but, as was the case with Chesterfield's flag kicks, the delivery was never quite good enough to cause problems in the box. Allott's 40-yard pass to Hall was headed out for another corner on 42: staying up, Blatherwick found himself working the left wing momentarily, linking with Smith, who drew the foul. Clingan's driven free kick was a little to high and went over.

Chesterfield brought Folan on for Larkin at half time. Caleb won some useful flicks but, like Colin in the first half, found the close attention of determined defenders just too much to overcome. Barnsley posed a threat on the break, and Wright shot across the goal from the angle on 54 when he might have finished better, with a little more composure. Howard replaced the useful Devaney. Barnsley won a free kick 30 yards out on 65 when Clingan's opponent dived over his tackle but Williams' rasping effort was tipped over by Roche.

Wright was allowed to continue through the centre despite being yards offside on 70: Roche came out and beat the striker's effort away. Wright recovered it, but this time Allott came storming in with a fine challenge to limit the Tykes to another corner. Nardiello was replaced by leading scorer Hayes as Andy Richie sought to capitalise on his side's growing influence.

N'Toya replaced Smith on 76. Hayes' pace caused problems to our rearguard and his break and cross on 78 deserved a better reward than to be seen sailing past the goalmouth for a goal kick. Allott played a lovely ball up the channel to Folan on 81, and the forward cut inside before shooting across the goal, missing the far post by inches.

Wright really should have given Barnsley the lead on 82: The Tykes brought on Richards for Shuker, and the former Swindon man's first task was to obstruct Roche at a corner. This left Wright with a free header from a few yards out, but he powered it over. Barnsley finished the game stronger, and more likely to score, but three class pieces of defending from Hazell denied Richards, Wright and Hayes as the game drew to a close.

So - another day, another draw. Chesterfield played most of the football, patiently looking for the killer ball and holding the thing and switching play when that ball was unavailable. For the most part, though, that ball could not be found, thanks largely to effective, attentative defending from Barnsley and thanks also to the absence of The Chief. The replacements up front are honest, hard-working professionals but they currently lack the presence or the experience to force the issue in the face of resolute defending. Clingan and Niven were the legs in midfield and ran until broken, really; Allott was in front of the central defenders and played well, breaking up moves and attempting to launch moves of his own, but his patience was his greatest asset today. People will call him for the number of short passes he played, but they all found their man and retained possession.

At the back, Blatherwick had one of those games that would make you think you'd had your money's worth, just watching him. Hazell was classy and composed alongside him, and the pair have forged a magnificent partnership, based (like all good marriages) on trust and understanding. It is great to walk along Cross Street after the game and hear so many visiting fans complain that "That number 16 of theirs had him in his pocket all game!"

We are still where we are, but the lack of punch up front without Wayne Allison continues to frustrate attempts to get further. All the football was played by us today, but the lack of a lead always rendered us vulnerable to a break or a sucker punch. All Spireites will be staring through the transfer window for the sight of a forward wandering up our garden path!
SB