Chesterfield thrashed Doncaster Rovers in a seven-goal thriller at the SMH Group Stadium to move within five points of the top seven.
On a night when Donny could have closed the gap on leaders Walsall, they were soundly defeated by the rampant Spireites. Instead, they remain four points clear of fourth place AFC Wimbledon, having played three games more than the Dons.
Donny Dismal in Defence
It was a night to forget for Doncaster’s backline, with at least three of the goals very poor from a defensive perspective. Just eleven minutes into the contest, Jamie Sterry lost his bearings and allowed Dylan Duffy to get in behind. Ted Sharman-Lowe had half-committed but quickly retreated, giving the Irish winger the chance to rifle home, with the keeper on the deck by the time the ball went straight through him.
For the second, Michael Olakigbe was allowed all the time in the world to control the ball and float the ball towards the back post. Tom Naylor headed back across goal, and with the Donny keeper already in the net, Bim Pebble made sure the ball joined him by applying the finish. Two goals in six second half minutes finished the game off as a contest. Rovers were cut apart for number three, losing the ball high before Olakigbe beat Sharman-Lowe at his near post. Pepple then added his second moments later.
Chesterfield Cruise To Victory
From the moment Duffy’s effort hit the back of the net, Chesterfield were in control of this encounter. They had some nervy moments, notably when Max Thompson produced an excellent double save to deny Luke Molyneux. He needed to scoop the ball off the goalline after tipping his second save backwards to keep it out, before the Rovers forward eventually got the better of him in first-half stoppage time.
Even when Joe Ironside found the net in added time in the second period, the Spireites provided an immediate response when Ollie Banks calmly dinked the ball over Sharman-Lowe to rubberstamp the victory. Playing before everyone else this weekend, this was a big chance for both to put out a statement, which Chesterfield did in empathic fashion. That condemned Donny to their heaviest defeat since the reverse fixture in September, making it 8-2 in favour of the Spireites this campaign.
Writer’s View
The key differences between the sides yesterday evening came in the two boxes. Chesterfield were clinical in their finishing, pouncing on some miserable Donny defending to score a fantastic five goals. Meanwhile, Doncaster couldn’t take their chances and shipped goals at crucial points in the game, leaving their position in the top three a lot more precarious.
