VIDEO: SPIREITES' GOLDEN GOALS - Derek Niven screamer knocks Manchester City out of League Cup

It is something that football fans of all clubs argue about. What is the best, most memorable or favourite goal scored by your heroes?
Derek Niven strikes the winning goal against Manchester City.Derek Niven strikes the winning goal against Manchester City.
Derek Niven strikes the winning goal against Manchester City.

Each week we are taking a look at some of the best to hit the net for Chesterfield over the past decades. If you have a goal you would like us to feature, email [email protected] with brief details and your memories of the strike and we will try to include in a future article.

Among those suggested for future weeks are a Paul Holland cracker against Blackpool in the 90s

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But this week’s golden goal, requested by Joe Stents, takes us back to September 2006.

Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.
Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.

Chesterfield were 17th in League One after an indifferent start to the season with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches, but then just one point from their following six matches.

So a Carling Cup clash with Premier League Manchester City represented the chance to escape the pressures of their league woes — and an opportunity to heap more misery on underfire City boss Stuart Pearce.

The Spireites hero — and subject of the golden goal — was Derek Niven, who has already featured in this feature for his memorable late strike against Bournemouth in 2010 that earned Chesterfield a dramatic victory in their last game at Saltergate.

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Before Niven’s memorable goal, the League Cup tie had been a typical clash between sides from different divisions. The Spireites had more than matched their illustrious visitors, who included the likes of Richard Dunne, Sylvain Distin, Joey Barton, Didi Haman, Trevor Sinclair and Georgios Samaras.

Derek Niven wins his header against Joey Barton and Bernardo Corradi.Derek Niven wins his header against Joey Barton and Bernardo Corradi.
Derek Niven wins his header against Joey Barton and Bernardo Corradi.

Caleb Folan had miscued a good chance from 10 yards before the top-flight side took the lead in the 40th minute when Samaras scrambled in after Bernardo Corradi hit the woodwork.

It appeared as though the Spireites’ chance of an upset had gone, but roared on by the majority in a 7,000 plus crowd the home side hit back.

Folan made amends with a headed equaliser from a Phil Picken free kick early in the second period after keeper Nicky Weaver misjudged the curling kick.

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Then came Niven’s spectacular 67th minute goal that proved to be the winner.

Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.
Derek Niven's spectacular goal dumped Premier League Manchester City out of the League Cup.

VIDEO: Watch Derek Niven’s winner against Manchester CityNiven, who also played for Bolton Wanderers, Northampton Town and Grimsby Town in a long career of almost 300 league appearances, more than 250 of them for Chesterfield, was in the right place at the right time.

The Spireites surged down the left, made inroads into the penalty area and when a cross was headed out by Claudio Reyna, Niven crashed a terrific right-footed volley from outside the box into the top corner.

It was the Spireites’ first ever top-flight League Cup scalp and a moment and a goal to remember for all Chesterfield fans.

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