Five big talking points from Chesterfield's gutsy win against Solihull Moors

Tom Whelan struck the winner for Town just before half-time - his first goal for the club.

Walking in a Whelan Wonderland

Tom Whelan was outstanding in midfield, and not for the first time. He is getting better and better and if he can add more goals and assists to his game then Town have got a very talented player on their hands. He showed no signs of rustiness and if he did over indulge on the pigs in blankets at Christmas then he can feel free to carry on! His goal in the 43rd minute was his first for the Spireites and it was enough to get 2021 off to a winning start. That is now six unbeaten under Rowe, including five wins and five clean sheets on the bounce.

Rough it up

Whelan celebrates his goal with Will Evans and Jak McCourt.

If Solihull thought they could turn up at the Technique and bully the Blues then they were very much mistaken. The visitors started the better team in the opening minutes and Chesterfield needed Kyle Letheren to make a smart save from Joe Sbarra. Then Town got a grip of the game and controlled the last 25 minutes of the first half. Rowe said the second half was a ‘war’ and was pleased with the steel and determination they showed, especially in the final minutes when down to 10-men. This was a good marker for the Spireites who showed they can play and get tough when needed.

A win for the volunteers

From the volunteers who came in Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to help with getting the pitch ready for the match, to the groundsman, to Rowe, this was a real team effort from everyone. The volunteers helped with putting the covers down and taking them off again as the squad trained on the Technique pitch during the week. As snow fell before kick-off, the volunteers were out in force again to clear the pitch and again at half-time. Before giving his analysis of the game in his post-match interview, Rowe praised the ‘outstanding’ work of the volunteers and said the game would not have gone ahead without them.

Solihull’s dark arts

The game was a good advert for the National League as two competitive teams went at each other. In the difficult conditions, referee Paul Marsden could have been a little bit more lenient, in my opinion. He was handing yellows out like Christmas cards when he could have just had a word. Solihull’s players grinded him down all afternoon and it resulted in George Carline being shown a a second yellow and being sent off against his old club. The Moors are a good team but their persistent surrounding of the ref, especially pesky Jamey Osborne, who ironically picked up his fifth booking of the season and will now be suspended for the next match, is really irritating.

Spot the ball

Given the weather, can you believe we played with a white ball?! Apparently that had to be the case because only a ball issued by the National League could be used. Bonkers! Some suggested spray-painting it orange because technically it would still be the same ball - I like it!