Gateshead v Chesterfield – 15 April 2024
The penultimate game of the champions’ season saw the Spireites travel to Gateshead.
Paul Cook made 6 changes to the side that lost at Wealdstone 2 days previously, as Sheckleford, Williams, Clements, Jones Naylor and Hobson came in. And a surprise early return on the bench for Colclough.
The visitors started well, and in the first 30 minutes, Quigley headed over from a Mandeville free kick, a Dobra shot went for a corner, Hobson got into a good position three times, but the finish just wasn’t there.
Lo and behold in Gateshead’s first meaningful attack, Brown got free and was brought down by Tyrer and Hannant gleefully put the kick away to make it 1-0. Then on 30 minutes, Brown was brought down again, although suspiciously offside, got through, Tyrer came out, and the referee decided it was another penalty. The most controversial point of the game. Even the home media said it was a “scandalous” award. But Hannant stuck it away for 2-0 at half time.
Second half again was a better performance, with lots of possession but frustratingly the Heed defence was only breached once when Mandeville and Sheckleford combined on the right and the cross was forced by a combination of Storey and Quigley.
Rest of the half, the visitors proved nothing clinical enough to find an equaliser. And in the cold light of day it’s four defeats on the trot for the champions.
Card count:
Gateshead 2 – Harness and Richardson
Spireites 4 – Tyrer for the second penalty, Paul Cook for his protests for the penalty, Naylor and Sheckleford.
Spireites Substitutions used: Colclough Curtis and Jacobs. Colclough looked sharp after his injury.
Corner count:
Heed 2 and Spireites 11.
Attendance: 879 with only 155 Spireites making the journey, after the game was switched from Tuesday to Monday at short notice.
The less said about the switch the better?
One left at home, as the champions winning season finishes at home to Maidenhead.
As Danny Webb said, they want to finish on a high, but now just want to see the season finish now after recent results.
Full time: Heed 2 Spireites 1
Alan Wilkinson 18.04.24
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