Recap: Chesterfield secure National League play-off place after victory at Halifax
After eight months and 41 matches the National League play-off race comes down to the final day.
Chesterfield know a win against Halifax today (12.30pm KO) will guarantee them a place in the play-offs and a shot at promotion to League Two.
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Hide AdThe Spireites have their fate in their own hands but today’s opponents Halifax, Eastleigh and Bromley are ready to pounce if they slip up.
Liam Norcliffe is at The Shay and will have all the build-up, team news, updates and reaction.
Halifax v Chesterfield: LIVE UPDATES:
Key Events
- FT: Halifax 1 v 2 Chesterfield
- Spireites win to secure play-off spot
- They will face Notts County away next Saturday in play-off elimination round after finishing 6th
- Mandeville gives Blues lead on 14 minutes, Stephenson equalises after half an hour, Tyson scores winner with 10 to go
- Spireites unchanged from win against Dagenham
- 3-4-2-1: Montgomery; Evans, Gunning (c), Maguire; Carline, Weston, Oyeleke, Taylor; Clarke, Mandeville; Rowe. Subs: Whittle, McCourt, Whelan, Tyson, Yussuf.
Chance for Halifax as Byrne gets in behind Taylor and crosses for Hyde who was coming in at the far post but Carline intercepts. 0-0.
Early stages
Seven minutes played here at The Shay, still goalless. No chances of note so far. The Spireites in all red.
Here we go!
After eight months and 41 matches the play-off race comes down to the final game. A win and the Spireites will be in the top seven. Hold onto your hats!
Not long now
The warm-ups are over and both teams have headed down the tunnel.
The sprinklers are soaking The Shay pitch which looks in good nick.
How are your nerves?
Pre-match thoughts from fan writer Ben
The team news is in then and we now know the eleven challenged with seeing the Spireites over the line and securing a spot in those all important play-offs. Rather unsurprisingly, Town’s starting line-up remains unchanged from the side which started in the 2-1 win against Dagenham and Redbridge last time out.
This was always to be expected in my opinion, as James Rowe’s side put in an impressive performance, arguably their best for a number of weeks, and a similar performance today should be enough to secure the vital three points.
Of course, no two games are the same, and there are many differing variables going into this game against FC Halifax Town, not least that unlike last week where the Spireites were able to draw on a home crowd, today they’ll have to hold their nerve in front of a Halifax crowd who will likely be just as lively as the one at Technique Stadium last weekend.
This has been a factor Rowe has been eager to play down in the build-up though, and arguably with good reason, as this Town team have always given the impression that they are a mentally tough unit, capable of digging in and getting the job done in potentially tough scenarios. This factor, coupled with the impressive performance last time out, gives me the confidence that the lads are going to get the job done today.
I don’t anticipate for a second that it’ll be easy, but I think they’ll have just enough to get over the line. I’ll go for a nerve-jangling 1-0 Chesterfield victory.