Recap: Chesterfield jump back into National League play-offs with win at Bromley

It’s a nice evening down here in Bromley, and hopefully it will be even nicer come full-time with the Spireites travelling home with three points in the bag.

A reminder that Curtis Weston is not involved tonight, Martin Smith comes in for him. Weston has been managing a sore Achilles so that is not a huge surprise.

Stay with us folks as we bring you live updates from Hayes Lane, COYB!

The team news is in then and it’s just the one change made by James Rowe tonight, with Martin Smith coming in to replace Curtis Weston.

You’d have to imagine that’s somewhat of a forced change, as Weston has been nursing a knock through the past few games, and his form in recent months, you’d have thought, would’ve made him virtually undroppable otherwise. Tonight’s game might have come just a bit to soon for the Spireites club captain then, and it will be interesting to see how successfully Town’s midfield will be able to cope with such a significant loss.

Despite this blow though, there are still reasons to be optimistic from a Chesterfield perspective. The vast majority of those who put in a much improved display away at Wrexham last time out retain their places, and if they can put in a similar performance here, and maybe benefit from a slice of good fortune here and there, there’s no reason why the Spireites can’t come out of this one with all three points.

Of course, as we saw in the reverse fixture, Bromley will pose a tough test, but Saturday’s performance has given me a renewed sense of my confidence in this group of players to get the job done. For that reason, I’ll back them tonight. 2-1 Chesterfield is my prediction.

Liam’s pre-match video HERE

One change for Chesterfield as Martin Smith comes in for Curtis Weston who is not involved in the squad. He has been nursing a sore Achilles.

3-5-2: G.Smith; Kerr, Gunning (c), Maguire; Carline, M.Smith, Oyeleke, Taylor; Clarke; Mitchell, Rowe. Subs: Yarney, Whittle, Mandeville, Whelan, Tyson.

Jak McCourt, Joe Rowley and Martin Smith have all travelled today.

Eight cup finals to go to see if we get in the play-offs, it’s certainly do-able.

Football doesn’t half put you through the emotional wringer, after the first-half horror show against Halifax, our next performance where we restricted Wrexham to two chances in the game was more than welcome.

James Rowe certainly acted quickly to get Danny Rowe in, as by his own admission after the Halifax game, we aren’t the same team without Akwasi Asante in the side.

Chesterfield supporters really shouldn’t be too surprised that our manager is rotating the squad as players do run out of steam being asked to play two games a week, luckily with the depth of squad we have there’s cover in most positions. Alex Whittle had a flat performance against Halifax but the addition of Joel Taylor on the left gave the side an extra dimension against Wrexham

After Bromley tonight, Hartlepool are up next for us live on TV on Saturday. They have recruited three new players this week but don’t seem to get the comments that Chesterfield get about how it’s wrong to sign players. They’ve brought in goalkeeper Brad James from Middlesbrough, defender Zaine Francis-Angol from Boreham Wood and striker Harvey Saunders on loan from Fleetwood. Dave Challinor’s team are on a 15 match unbeaten run and are hoping for the title, lets hope the appearance of the Prime Minister on their pitch as an PR stunt for the local by-election brings them bad luck!

Leadership of the table changes on a weekly basis and it anyone’s guess who goes straight up I just hope we manage to avoid Stockport if we are in the play offs.

Bromley v Chesterfield (7.45pm)

Eastleigh v Notts County (7.45pm)

FC Halifax Town v Woking (7pm)

King’s Lynn Town v Stockport County (7pm)

Maidenhead United v Weymouth (7.45pm)

Sutton United v Barnet (7pm)

Torquay United v Aldershot Town (7pm)

Yeovil Town v Solihull Moors (7pm)