Goalscoring Smith; in-form Jalal; one point gained or two dropped? seven talking points from Chesterfield's draw against AFC Fylde

Chesterfield had to settle for a point against AFC Fylde at the Proact on Saturday after a hard-fought game between two of the National League’s strugglers.
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Jonathan Smith opened the scoring for the Spireites just after the half-hour mark but Nick Haughton equalised with 16 minutes to go.

Here are seven talking points from the match:

One point gained or two points dropped?

The Spireites were the better team in the first-half despite Fylde looking dangerous on the counter-attack.

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But it was around the hour-mark that the visitors began to pile on the pressure and pinned Town back.

The Coasters were denied by the brilliant Shwan Jalal as they broke through Chesterfield’s high defensive frequently.

The pressure told on 76 minutes when Haughton ran through and levelled the score.

Chesterfield 1 v  1 AFC FyldeChesterfield 1 v  1 AFC Fylde
Chesterfield 1 v 1 AFC Fylde

Fylde had a few other good chances to win it and in truth the Spireites were probably a little lucky not to lose in the end.

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Pemberton said his team did not deserve to win and time will tell whether it is point gained or two dropped.

Shwan Jalal

The Spireites goalkeeper is in great form and put in another top performance.

His first-half save from Jordan Williams’ one-on-one proved crucial as seconds later Chesterfield went up the other end and took the lead through Jonathan Smith.

Jalal made a similar save from Williams after the break as well as a couple of smart reaction stops from close range.

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He did everything he could to keep a clean sheet but was eventually beaten by Haughton.

They can’t keep relying on him to make multiple saves in games.

Josef Yarney

The defender has been struggling with a hamstring injury since the end of September but hopefully now he can stay fit for the run-in. He replaced Jamie Sharman and slotted into the back three alongside Will Evans and Haydn Hollis and gave a good account of himself. He outjumped Fylde’s target man Jamie Proctor a number of times and carried the ball out of defence allowing Jordan Cropper to bomb forward down the right.

Pemberton only has Sharman for cover at centre-back now Anthony Gerrard has left the club so it is important those three stay clear of injuries.

Two points from safety

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Chesterfield remain in 21st but slip to two points from safety after Dagenham and Redbridge beat Notts County. Dagenham also have one game in hand while Fylde have two.

The good news is there is only four points separating six teams so it is very tight and any number of teams could be sucked into the relegation battle yet.

Jonathan Smith

After not scoring since August, the midfielder now has three in three games.

The 33-year-old made a run into the box as Chesterfield burst forward at pace and he struck the ball sweetly into the bottom corner with his left foot.

It was not an easy finish but he made it look effortless.

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The days of him struggling at right-back under John Sheridan seems a long time ago now.

Scott Boden

The striker has nine league goals to his name but not scored since Aldershot away on November 30.

Pemberton is a big fan of Boden and will be desperate for him to get a goal to kick-start his season again.

Nathan Tyson’s arrival will add competition for places up front and Mike Fondop returns from suspension after next week.

Nathan Tyson

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The 37-year-old signed on loan from Notts County on Thursday and came on for the last 30 minutes against The Coasters. He looked sharp and showed he still has some of that pace that frightened defences in the Championship earlier in his career. He can’t play against his parent club next week at Meadow Lane but he will back available for another vital game against Wrexham on February 8.