Ched Evans does the damage again as Chesterfield fall in league opener to Fleetwood Town
Chesterfield got their League Two campaign off to a losing start – with old boy Ched Evans again the villain.
A week after netting the winner for Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, the veteran striker backed it up with another first-half strike to give the Cods another 1-0 win and three league points.
In many ways it was similar to that game on the Fylde coast, with Paul Cook’s side probing and pushing time but running into a stoic, well organised defence.
Chesterfield will still be wondering how they didn’t go into half time in front rather than behind.
Josh Koroma planted a curler wide early and Ruel Sitiriou twice failed to capitalise from close range after good lovely word down the right flank from Remeao Hutton and then Dilan Markanday.
Although Lee Bonis should have worked goalkeeper Jay Lynch after being teed up by Koroma, at the other end Evans was always a lurking threat, planting a great chance wide after a defensive slip.
That chance wasn’t as good as the one that followed for Bonis. Dilan Markanday’s centre sat up beautifully for the striker in the centre of the goalmouth but he could only plant his header over.
The hosts paid the price for that miss within seconds. Fleetwood ventured downfield and Evans found the net with a looping effort from distance.
A big penalty shout right on half time for a foul on Sitiriou that instead led to a free-kick only summed up the home frustration.
It wasn’t the scenario Chesterfield wanted but the second half started to mirror that in the cup meeting, with Fleetwood funnelling back and forming a red wall.
Still, it needed some smart defending by Jack Simpson to snuff out a break from Will Davies one on one.
Fraser Bryden, replacing Bonis up front, had a shot on the turn saved and Markanday snatched at a chance but despite plenty of balls into the box the ball wouldn’t fall for the home side.
A smart block from Boot prevented Andy Cannon from making it 2-0 before the final whistle sounded on a frustrating opening day.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Boot; Hutton, Simpson, McFadzean (capt), Gordon (Owolabi-Belewu 87); Stirk, McEachran (Naylor 87); Markanday, Sotirious (Mandeville 68), Koroma (Anisjko 87); Bonis (Bryden 68)
Subs: Owolabi-Belewu, Eccleston, Naylor, Lamptey, Mandeville, Anisjko, Bryden
Fleetwood (3-1-4-2): Lynch; Rooney, Bennett, Potter; Neal; Cirino, Sommers (Cannon 55), Helm, McCann; Davies, Evans (capt) (Loupalo-Bi 78)
Subs: Pradic (gk), Andrew, Cannon, Loupalo-Bi, McLean, Costelloe, Dempsey
Referee: Alan Dale
Attendance: 7,856 (179 visitors)