Spireites Draw Against Sheffield United.

Chesterfield ended the regular season on a fairly positive note, after claiming a point with a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane yesterday afternoon against Sheffield United. Mark McNulty’s first-half strike was cancelled out in the second period by the unlikeliest of sources, with Ian Evatt heading a second-half leveller that ultimately led to a share of the points between the two sides.

Paul Cook named an unchanged side from last Saturday’s defeat at the hands of League One champions Bristol City for this particular encounter. 

In the opening moments, Stefan Scougall took matters into his own hands with a lone run that culminated in a deflected shot that sailed narrowly wide of the post. Waiting on the edge of the area, the ball eventually fell to Sam Clucas who delayed his decision to strike and ultimately gave up possession to a magnificent sliding tackle on behalf of a member of the hosts’ defence.

Che Adams sensed an opportunity before firing from 20 yards, but on this occasion the forward’s low effort was pushed behind impressively by Tommy Lee for a corner-kick. With 34 minutes on the clock, the home side broke the deadlock courtesy of McNulty’s powerful attempt from just inside the area that Lee failed to stop as it nestled into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Looking for an immediate equaliser, Jay O’Shea beat several opposing defenders before dragging his attempt low and wide of Mark Howard’s post from a fairly awkward angle. On the stroke of half-time, Gary Roberts committed a foul near the half-way line that preceded a long free-kick which met the referee’s whistle signalling the start of the break.

Just six minutes had been played in the second period when the Spireites netted an all-important equaliser, as Evatt connected with a driven cross in an advanced position and directed his thunderous header past a flailing Howard. Clucas received the ball inside the area and struck first-time before watching his effort go low and wide of the post, as momentum began to swing in favour of Cook’s men in this contest.

On the counter-attack, Adams was involved once again for the home side although this time his tame effort deflected straight into the palms of Lee who gathered possession with relative ease. Sam Morsy sent a lofted through-ball towards Clucas, who brought it out of the air and was denied a shot at goal in the end by a stunning last-ditch tackle.

After receiving the ball in a more than inviting position, Roberts stabbed his effort waywardly wide of the post and caused absolutely no problems whatsoever for Howard as the game entered its closing stages. For the full four minutes of additional time, both sides launched attacks of their own but to no avail and will now prepare to begin their respective play-off campaigns in a matter of days.