Recap: Chesterfield concede three goals in first-half in defeat to Hartlepool United

The Spireites face high-flying Hartlepool United in ANOTHER huge clash in the race for promotion in the National League today (5.20pm KO).
Hartlepool United v Chesterfield - live updates.Hartlepool United v Chesterfield - live updates.
Hartlepool United v Chesterfield - live updates.

This is about as tough as it gets for Town as they try and put an end to third-placed Pools’ 15-match unbeaten run.

Chesterfield go into this one on the back of a good win at rivals Bromley in midweek, while the hosts have not played for two weeks.

Liam Norcliffe is at the game and will have all the build-up, team news, updates and reaction.

Hartlepool United v Chesterfield: LIVE UPDATES

Key Events

  • FT: Hartlepool United 3 v 1 Chesterfield
  • Rhys Oates put Pools ahead on five minutes
  • Josef Yarney own goal makes it 2-0
  • Luke Armstrong adds third before half-time
  • Fraser Kerr gets one back against his old club in second-half - his first for Spireites
  • Three changes for Chesterfield as Josef Yarney, Curtis Weston and Nathan Tyson replace Gavin Gunning, Martin Smith and Kairo Mitchell
  • (3-4-1-2): G. Smith; Yarney, Kerr, Maguire (c); Carline, Weston, Oyeleke, Taylor; Clarke; Rowe, Tyson .Subs: Rowley, Mandeville, M.Smith, Whelan, Mitchell.

The ball bounces over Yarney’s head on halfway, Oates sprints clear, he should pass it to Armstrong for a tap-in but Maguire just gets back in time to get a foot in. Maguire is injured as a result of his challenge but he is back on the pitch now.

This is better from Chesterfield.

Mandeville danced by a couple of players before curling a shot towards goal from about 20 yards, comfortable stop for Ravas but it was good play by Mandeville.

Yarney’s deep free-kick finds Kerr in loads of space about 12 yards out, not sure if he was going for goal or tried to head it back across the six-yard box but his finish went well wide in the end. He was probably in two minds as to what to do.

Kerr pulls one back from Chesterfield, heading in Mandeville’s corner from the right. His first goal for the Spireites.

Just under half an hour to go.

It’s a start.

Still 3-0. It opened up for Ferguson for a fourth a few moments ago but he slipped in the box.

It looks like 4-2-3-1 now for Town with Mandeville, Clarke and Rowley supporting Rowe.

Goal difference could be crucial come the end of the season so Chesterfield need to keep the Pools out this half.

Second Town sub - 54 mins

Tyson off, Rowley on.

Looks like Town have gone four at the back of Carline, Yarney, Kerr and Maguire.

Weston and Oyeleke sitting in midfield, Clarke and Mandeville as two number 10s and Tyson and Rowe up top.

Back underway.

Not a surprise that Chesterfield have made a sub.

Liam Mandeville has replaced Joel Taylor.

What a miserable half.

Town have not been at the races at all, but the hosts deserve some credit because they have excellent.

Oates reacted quickest from close-range for the first after Smith made a good save, Yarney turned Sterry’s cross into the net for the second and Armstrong tapped home for the third after a shocking miss from Holohan.

The Pools have pressed Chesterfield into mistakes, they have not given them any space or allowed them to have a chance. Just Danny Rowe’s long-range free-kick on target for the Blues so far.

The Spireites need a reaction or this could get very nasty.