Chesterfield FC v Torquay United Report
Chesterfield reinforce their three point lead at the summit of League Two with a 3-1 win over Torquay.
The home side fell behind at the beginning of the second half through Shamir Goodwin’s close range finish, before Eoin Doyle cancelled out the visitors’ lead within minutes.
Jay O’Shea took it upon himself to score his side’s second, as he put the ball out of Torquay goalkeeper Michael Poke’s reach. All three points were secured in the final seconds of the game, after O’Shea calmly converted from inside the area.
Spireites boss Paul Cook made just one change from the 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe last Saturday, with O’Shea taking the place of Gary Roberts.
In the opening moments, O’Shea squandered a glorious opportunity from close range after his effort crashed against the crossbar and away from goal. Joss Labadie dragged a shot disappointingly wide of Tommy Lee’s post.
Anthony O’Connor met the ball on the half-volley, but the defender’s effort sailed dismally wide of the post. The opening 30 minutes were a case of frustration for the Spireites, as the Torquay defence held firm.
O’Shea’s driven cross from the right-hand side was intercepted with ease by Poke. The lack of creativity and gilt-edged chances was the catalyst behind a goalless first period.
After the restart, the Gulls took the lead. Goodwin received the ball and drove into the hosts’ area before finishing past Lee. On 53 minutes, the home side made a double substitution. Armand Gnanduillet replaced Ollie Banks, whilst Roberts took to the field in place of Dan Gardner.
Moments after the change, Chesterfield got back on level terms. A calamitous mistake from Poke led to Doyle picking up the ball and finishing with ease after going one-on-one with the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper.
The goal shifted momentum in the home side’s favour, as they continued to press in search of another goal. Not long after entering the fray, Gnanduillet struck the post with a volley following a low cross from Tendayi Darikwa.
With 18 minutes left to play, Jayden Stockley was awarded a yellow card for an infringement on Ritchie Humphreys. Two minutes later, ex-Spireite Aaron Downes replaced O’Connor and Conor Wilkinson took the place of the recently cautioned Stockley.
On 81 minutes, Courtney Cameron replaced Jordan Chappell. Two minutes later, Sam Hird replaced Doyle as part of an alteration in style with the game entering the latter stages. Wilkinson wasted yet another opportunity since entering proceedings, after he brought the ball down with his chest and volleyed high and wide of the crossbar.
Wilkinson fired wide of the target following a punched clearance from Lee. With 88 minutes on the clock, the home side completed the comeback courtesy of O’Shea’s fantastic finish from distance that slotted straight into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
It was then announced that there would be four minutes of additional time.
The hosts’ third and final goal of the day came in the last moments prior to the final whistle, after O’Shea found space in the opposition area and finished smartly under Poke to send the home support into raptures.
