One lapse proves costly as Chesterfield fall to tight defeat at Port Vale
Defensive lapse is punished in fruitless away day
Chesterfield’s rise up League Two was halted as they fell to a careless defeat at Port Vale.
A bright first half which they should have ended with them in front instead ended with them falling behind to a soft goal from Cuban winger Onel Hernandez that proved the difference between the two teams on the day.
It was frustrating for Paul Cook’s side and their army of travelling fans, the only consolation being that they remain seventh in the table.
The match opened to the strains of Vale fan Robbie Williams’ ‘Let Me Entertain You’ and the Spireites did just that for much of the first half without hitting the net.
Lee Bonis served early notice when his early header demanded a finger-tip save from Marko Marosi while Louie Marsh was a lurking threat, curling one effort wide of the upright and another a yard beyond the far post after being set free by a cute back heel from Joel Randall.
Ryan Stirk has yet to score this season but deserved to, ending a lovely passing move with a waspish effort beaten out by the by busy Marosi.
The loss of Randall to injury 35 minutes didn’t help matters. He was replaced by Josh Koroma and Vale edged their way back into the game and delivered a sucker punch right on half time.
A moment’s hesitancy between goalkeeper Ryan Boot and centre-half Jack Simpson left the ball free and Hernandez pounced on it to prod into the open net.
It was the sort of soft goal that has hampered the team in recent times and scuppered chances of a rare clean sheet.
Chesterfield were out early for the second half, keen to make amends kicking towards their near 1,500-strong support.
Vale, who have conceded only once at home this season, funnelled back in defence of their lead and manager Jon Brady subbed goal scorer Hernandez an hour in.
It took until the 70th minute for the Spireites to work Marosi again, from Marsh.
Vale should have put the game to bed shortly after when a shot was parried and sub Oli Lynch put the loose ball into the stand from close in.
As the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark Paul Cook threw Tom Pearce, Kiano Dyer, Liam Mandeville and then Will Grigg who went up front alongside Lee Bonis in a rare switch to two strikers.
Chances remained rare as Vale closed out a third straight win in all competitions and Chesterfield headed home reflecting on a missed opportunity of at least a point having let two slip through their grasp at Crawley last week.
They’ll welcome the chance of a chance to put things right at home to Colchester United on Tuesday.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Boot; Hutton, McFadzean (capt), Simpson, Gordon (Pearce 80); Stirk (Dyer 80), McEachran; Markanday (Grigg 85), Marsh (Mandeville 80), Randall (Koroma 33); Bonis
Subs: Naylor, Mandeville, Eccleston, Dyer, Grigg, Koroma, Pearce
Port Vale (4-2-3-1): Marosi; Gabriel, Humphreys, Connor Hall (Byers 73), Moon; Headley (John 73), Dempsey (Walters ; Hernandez (Figueroa 68), Garrity (capt), George Hall; Watters (Lynch 66)
Subs: Smith, John, Byers, Lynch, Figueroa, Asamoah, Walters
Referee: Harrison Blair
Attendance: 7,829 (1,468 visitors)