Another pre-season win for North Notts

A frenetic start saw both teams approach the game as if it were a league match, not a pre-season friendly.

The home side struggled to cope with the intelligent movement of Allen and William Butler as North Notts began to open up the Chesterfield defence.

Despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Kostas Brellas, making his first team debut, the visitors from Mansfield took the lead following a scramble in the ‘D’.

One quickly became two as Chesterfield struggled to maintain their shape and cohesion.

At 2-0 down the home gradually began to make inroads. While their play lacked fluency, Chesterfield were still able to force a series of penalty corners.

Tasos Varsamidis spurned a good opportunity from the left but his effort resulted in another penalty corner that ex-North Notts player Gareth Hunter converted with a deft finish.

A scrappy end to the half saw the home side go into the break trailing 2-1.

A tactical adjustment from coach John Nash during the interval seemed to have the desired effect as playmaker Chris Battye at last began to connect with Chris Cowley and Adam Bointon on the forward line.

Chesterfield took control of the game and were able to force several fine saves from Paul Unwin in the Notts goal.

The game was tilting in the home side’s favour, with the visitors on the back foot. The good work was undone, however, after first Jonathan Hodgson, then his brother Andy were sin-binned in quick succession.

Down to nine men, the Derbyshire side were actually able to keep Notts at bay.

Yet this period clearly took its toll on the hosts as North Notts capitalised on tired legs in the Chesterfield defence to score a third, then a fourth game-killing goal.

Chesterfield continued to press in the final 10 minutes and were perhaps unlucky not to grab a late consolation goal after skilful work from Bointon saw his effort cleared off the line.