Chesterfield secured a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against Bromley at Hayes Lane, with Will Grigg scoring twice for the Spireites in an entertaining encounter.
Although Chesterfield led at half-time, a determined Bromley side clawed their way back to earn a share of the spoils, with Michael Cheek’s second-half strike proving decisive. However, Paul Cook’s side are still on the cusp of the play-off race, while Andy Woodman’s Bromley remain clear of the bottom two.
Paul Cook’s Chesterfield side made five changes from their previous match, a dominant win against Doncaster Rovers. Vontae Daley-Campbell, Jamie Grimes, Michael Jacobs, Ryan Colclough, and Grigg all came into the starting line-up, while injuries ruled out Devan Tanton and Harvey Araujo. Despite the changes, Chesterfield began the game confidently, eager to build on their recent success.
Chesterfield’s early pressure almost paid off when Michael Jacobs had a sight of goal, but his effort from inside the box went wide. Despite their positive start, the visitors found themselves behind after 14 minutes. Bromley’s Olufela Olomola rose to meet a well-delivered cross from Danny Imray, heading the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to put the hosts in front.
Bromley, known for their strength from set-pieces, threatened again soon after, with Omar Sowunmi coming close from a corner, dragging his shot wide. However, Chesterfield responded swiftly. A well-worked move saw Tom Naylor deliver a low cross into the box, where Grigg was perfectly positioned to finish from close range, levelling the match at 1-1.
The game remained tightly contested, with both sides creating chances. Bromley’s Sowunmi continued to cause problems from corners, heading into the side-netting at the back post. Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Boot had a couple of nervy moments, particularly when he lost his footing in the slippery conditions, but he recovered well to deny Bromley further opportunities.
Chesterfield capitalised on a defensive mistake just before half-time to take the lead. Former Spireites goalkeeper Grant Smith took too long on the ball, allowing Grigg to press him into an error, and the striker slotted the ball into an empty net for his second of the game. Chesterfield went into the break 2-1 up, having shown resilience to overturn the early deficit.
The second half began with Daley-Campbell going close for Chesterfield, but Bromley soon found their way back into the game. Five minutes after the restart, a free-kick from Ashley Charles struck the post, and Cheek was on hand to tap in the rebound from close range, making it 2-2. Cheek, who has a habit of scoring against Chesterfield, once again proved to be their tormentor.
Bromley took control of the game after their equaliser, and Imray forced a save from Boot, while Cheek blasted a shot over the bar. Recognising the shift in momentum, Cook made a triple substitution on the hour mark, introducing top scorer James Berry in an attempt to regain control.
The changes helped Chesterfield stabilise and quieten the Bromley crowd as the game progressed. Although chances were at a premium, Berry managed to get two shots on target, both comfortably saved by Smith. As the match drew to a close, Bromley’s Callum Reynolds fired just over the bar, but there was to be no late winner for either side.
Chesterfield dominated possession, holding 63.8% of the ball compared to Bromley’s 36.2%, but the match was evenly balanced in terms of chances, with Bromley registering 14 shots to Chesterfield’s 12. Despite leading at half-time, the Spireites will likely view this point as a positive result, given their history of struggling at Hayes Lane and Bromley’s determined display.
While Chesterfield will be disappointed not to have held on for the win, they can take heart from their attacking play, with Grigg’s clinical finishing a particular highlight. The result keeps the Spireites well positioned as they continue their push for promotion, and they will look to build on this performance in their next outing.
When asked after the game whether the draw was a good point, former Ipswich boss Paul Cook was clear on his thoughts. “Yeah, without a shadow of a doubt, we have never got nothing here,” he told Derbyshire Live. “We are always going to be a tad disappointed when you have led.We had some unbelievably good moments of football and then some other stuff where you are wondering what we are trying to do.
“When you don’t have that continuity in team selection, you are going to get some of that. We had partnerships on the pitch again tonight who haven’t probably played together, a little bit is on me, but some of it was taken away with the injuries.”
Founder of The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
