Spireites were looking to end 2012 on a high when they played Morecambe at the Proact. Richards made the bench, Whitaker came in for Randall and Dickenson replaced Boa Morte. Another big crowd turned up for this one, 6,358 with 179 of them from Morecambe.

Morecambe started the quicker of the two teams, Brodie heading just wide, Wright hit one just over the diving Tommy Lee. The home team suddenly came to life, Whittaker putting some really dangerous crosses in. Cooper forced a save out of Roche the former Spireites keeper. Talbot shook the cross bar with a thunderous header.

Whitaker hit an effort from 25 yards, but was denied with a good save from Roche, against the run of play McCeady scored for the visitors, Tommy saved it but he took a step back into his own net, and he was adjudged to have crossed the line.

Alessandra had a great chance to put the Shrimpers 2 up, but he wasted his opportunity. The Spireites went straight up the other end and won a free-kick, Townsend hit a lovely curling effort over the wall and into the corner of the net, leaving Roche with no chance of stopping it, It was his first ever football league goal. It was a good time to score with only 5 minutes left until half-time.

H.T. 1-1.

Boden replaced Dickenson at half-time, Boden was given the lone striker role, Whitaker moved to the left and O'Shea was given the supporting role just behind Boden. Whitaker who was having a great game and causing the Shrimpers all kinds of problems, hit a shot just wide. Smith galloped forward, but was denied by Roche, he was having a great game too, against his old club.

Townsend caught Haining with an elbow and was instantly dismissed, suddenly the Spireites who were looking a real threat were down to 10 men. A few moments later O'Shea came off and was replaced by Clay, just to offer the defence more protection.

You wouldn't have thought they were the team with a player less, because they just carried on attacking, Togwell hit one just wide. Boden put in a dangerous cross in, Whitaker just failed to get on the end of it.

Whitaker had a great chance to score after a mix up in the Morecambe defence, he failed to hit the target with his effort.  Then Morecambe almost stole victory, when Alessandra broke free, but a brilliant save from Lee denied him.

The game finished 1-1 with both keepers playing superb against their former teams and denying either side a chance to score the winner. F.T. 1-1.

Stand Up gave the Man of Match to Whitaker who had another great game for the Spireites. Stand Up also wants to know when was the last time the Spireites scored direct from a free kick, my answer of 1895 didn't impress him, although it does seem along time since we did score one.

Next up, a trip to Accrington Stanley, Cook comes face to face with his former club for the first time since leaving them to takeover at the Spireites. Hoping to start 2013 with a win, although it will not be easy, Chesterfield never seem to do well at Accrington.