Five big talking points from Chesterfield's defeat to Maidenhead United

Chesterfield let slip a one-goal lead to lose at home to Maidenhead United on Saturday. Here are Liam Norcliffe’s five big talking points from the game:
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What happened second half?

The tone for the second half was set when Jamie Sharman played a sloppy back-pass to goalkeeper Kyle Letheren which almost let Maidenhead in straight away. There was no tempo or intensity to Chesterfield’s play and they had no spark for large periods after the break. Worryingly, it sounds like manager John Pemberton warned them what to expect from the visitors in the second 45 minutes but they couldn’t execute the plan. After the win against Yeovil Pemberton talked about an improvement in mentality but this was two steps backwards for Town as they chucked away the lead. The frustrating thing is there was absolutely no need for it because they passed the ball reasonably well and created chances in the first half. At the very least Chesterfield should have got a point from the game.

Two soft goals...again

Joe Rowley made his first start for Chesterfield in 11 months in the defeat to Maidenhead United. Picture: Tina Jenner.Joe Rowley made his first start for Chesterfield in 11 months in the defeat to Maidenhead United. Picture: Tina Jenner.
Joe Rowley made his first start for Chesterfield in 11 months in the defeat to Maidenhead United. Picture: Tina Jenner.

Same old story. You felt it was coming the way the second half started. The first goal was perhaps unlucky as Sam Barratt’s cross evaded everybody before finding the back of the net. But the defending in the build-up to the goal was poor and they should not have allowed him any space. Maidenhead looked dangerous from set-pieces all afternoon and they made one count when Barratt beat a cluster of Blues players to the ball to glance home at the near post.

Ruthlessness

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It could have been a different result altogether had Chesterfield taken their chances. Laurence Maguire somehow headed against the crossbar from about two yards out at 0-0. Boden almost grabbed his second at 1-0 but his close-range strike was cleared off the line and David Buchanan’s powerful shot came back off the inside of the post at 1-1. And in the end they paid the price.

Bodes well

One positive from the game was Scott Boden’s well-taken first goal of the season. The striker made just his second start of the campaign after being sent off against Hartlepool United.The 30-year-old latched onto a long ball forward by Letheren and finished expertly first time on the half volley to give the Spireites the lead after half an hour. His all-round play in the first half was good as he linked up well with Tom Denton and read where all of the big man’s flick-ons were going. He almost doubled Town’s lead after the break but his effort was cleared off the line. He faded as the second half went on but overall he will be pleased to be off the mark.

Rowley returns

Joe Rowley was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up after not being involved since the opening day of the season. It was actually his first start in 11 months. He was probably Chesterfield’s best player in the first half. His link play was good, he demanded the ball and he broke behind the visitors a couple of times. He had less impact on the game after the break and was replaced late on. He gave a decent account of himself and will have given Pemberton something to think about for the week ahead.