Chesterfield fall to defeat at FC Halifax Town on "World Cup night" despite late revival

Trailing 2-0 late on, the Spireites scored twice in quick succession through new boys Ruel Sitiriou and Josh Koroma to grab what would have been a surprise draw before substitute Josh Hmami popped up to net a deserved winner for the home team in stoppage time.

The lure of the big semi-final between France and Spain reduced the attendance at The Shay to 352, including 80 die-hard Spireites who made the journey across.

It was a shame they didn't have more to cheer for their dedication.

Chesterfield had 25 players on duty in total, including five trialists, as in Saturday’s friendly against Sheffield United.

But whereas there had been encouraging signs in that game, they were pedestrian for large periods of this one despite no lack of effort.

The visitors were thankful for two smart saves by Ryan Boot from Cody Johnson and Connor Douglas to keep the scores level in an uncomfortable opening 20 minutes.

Sharper and more fluid in their play, the hosts from the National League were soon rewarded when Douglas broke down the left and fired across Boot and into the bottom corner.

It took half an hour for the Spireites to get their first shot in, young Gunner Elliott forcing a finger-tip save low down, and soon after that an unmarked Trialist blazed over soon after from ten ten yards out when he should have at least hit the target.

Despite signs of an improvement late in the half, manager Paul Cook can’t have been happy with what he’d seen.

Koroma and Sitiriou were introduced at half time but the Spireites soon fell 2-0 down.

An angled shot by Douglas came off Boot and the ball hit the bar before falling for Trialist to tap in.

It is no secret that former Rotherham United man Josh Benson is among the players Chesterfield are taking a look at and he was given some more game time in the second half amidst several changes around the hour mark.

It was Benson’s block that prevented Hmami adding a third for the home side before Sitiriou at last forced a save from the underworked home keeper.

Chesterfield had more more possession as the game wore on without looking a threat. Then came the late flurry of goals.

Sitoriou arrowed one into the top corner from just inside the box and then Koroma nipped in to finish smartly for 2-2.

The sparse crowd was still digesting the sudden turn-around when Hmami popped up to decide it from close range.

Chesterfield (first 60): Boot, Trialist, Dunkley, Naylor, Whitney, Butterfield, Trialist (Trialist 45’), Wozniczka (Koroma 45’), Mandeville, Trialist (Sotiriou 45’), Elliott

(last 30): Boot, Eccleston, Pond, Simpson, Gordon, Trialist (Cook 79’), McEachran, Mandeville, Sotiriou, Koroma, Bonis

Referee: Aaron Bannister

Attendance: 352 (80 visitors)