Last gasp penalty save feels like a winner as Chesterfield pip play-off rivals Grimsby Town
Chesterfield first team coach Kieron Dyer said that Ryan Boot’s penalty save felt like a “last-minute winner” as the Spireites pipped League Two play-off rivals Grimsby Town in a pulsating encounter.
The stopper backed up his spot-kick save against Tranmere on Saturday with another to bank three huge points from a 2-1 win.
The save was greeted like a goal by the home crowd and team-mates.
"The last ten seconds summed it up,” said Dyer. “It felt like a last minute winner. What a way to win it with a penalty save when you’ve done all that hard work and fair play to Booty. He has come into the team recently and done unbelievable for us.”
The match between the teams placed seventh lived up to its billing.
Two lovely strikes from Liam Mandeville and Lee Bonus had Chesterfield 2-0 in a frenetic first half before the visitors pulled one back just before the break when Jaze Kabia smashed in from close range.
Both teams hit the woodwork in the second half and then came the late drama after substitute Janoi Donacien was adjudged to have pushed Justin Amaluzor in the area.
The win gives Chesterfield a four-point cushion in seventh place ahead of the Mariners with three games to play, starting with Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood.
Dyer told the Derbyshire Times: “I don’t really believe in six-pointers but that was a six-pointer and it was really important that we won.
"All you want is to control your own destiny. We’ve done that so let’s win as many of our games as we can and see where that puts us.
"All the top teams still have to play each other. Grimsby have to go to Cambridge and we’ve got to play Swindon. It’s all to play for.”