Five-star Chesterfield storm to victory against Crewe Alexandra

Chesterfield made light of Storm Buelo and Crewe Alexandra by hitting the goals trail in their biggest win of the season.

They brushed aside the third-placed visitors 5-1 with all the strikes coming in a sparkling first half.

After recent concerns about missed opportunities, goals from Josh Koroma, Tom Naylor, Fraser Bryden, an og and Liam Mandeville capped 45 minutes of fine attacking football in the pouring rain.

The second half could never live up to those standards and the win was closed out with the concession of one goal.

Heavy rains from Storm Buelo were battering the ground and the Spireites unleashed all their full potential in a storming first half.

They attacked down the left and Mandeville’s low ball was converted by Koroma after three minutes.

The winger was injured in the act of scoring, meaning an earlier than expected introduction for Dilan Markanday, one of five players taken out of the starting line-up.

Markanday had no sooner dirtied his boots than it was 2-0 on six minutes.

The ball was worked into the box and Bryden knocked it across for Naylor to mop up. It was first goal since April.

Crewe were all over the shop and their keeper Tom Booth watched a Markanday cross-cum-shot hit his bar before the third goal arrived on 19 minutes, Mandeville again involved with a diagonal ball in that Bryden headed across the keeper and in for 3-0.

The visitors didn’t know what had hit them.

They did finally mount a pressure that forced Chesterfield into some headed clearances but a bad day for them got worse on 35 minutes.

Markanday drove into the area and his low ball in diverted into the net off a Crewe player. Some of their supporters appeared to head for the Exits.

They missed the fifth goal in first-half stoppage time, Mandeville’s cross from the left making its way into the top corner.

The last time Chesterfield had been 5-0 up at half time was against Accrington Stanley in 1933.

Paul Cook’s team selection had been bold, making five those changes.

Zach Hemming was in for his first start in goal since March along with Tom Pearce, Naylor, Mandeville and Bryden, making his full league debut. Naylor and Pearce were making their first league starts of the season and Naylor was captain.

With the rain still sheeting down, Crewe pulled a goal back on 57 minutes when sub Charlie McNeill drilled in, unmarked, from close in.

Half chances at both ends were met with diligent defending after and the clock ticked down with the a chorus of We Are Sailing from the home fans.

Chesterfield are firmly back on track.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Hemming; Hutton, Pond, Simpson, Pearce, (Gordon 61 ); Naylor (capt) (Lamptey 78), McEachran; Mandeville, Marsh (Dyer 78), Koroma (Markanday 4); Bryden (Bonis 61)

Crewe Alexandra: Booth; Billington (capt), Stephenson, Offord, Hutchinson (Ure 64), Gibson, Holicek (White 73), Tabiner (McNeil 46), Thomas (Lunt 46), Agius, March (Thibaut 64)

Referee: William Davis

Attendance: 7,945 (760 visitors)