'We've gone from a team of long-ballers to playing crisp, attacking football', says our Chesterfield fan writer

Yeovil weren’t a bad team and had the better of the opening exchanges until Chesterfield reorganised a little and denied them any space in midfield.

For those watching matches this season on the live stream, you might not notice a certain ex Mansfield manager in the centre stand bellowing out orders all match to our team, especially the defensive line. George Foster who is James Rowe’s assistant, has certainly made an impact on the sidelines and can talk a good game as well. Foster noted that he rates Rowe as one of the best coaches he’s worked with and that straight after the game our boss would have been working out how to beat Maidenhead Unite, our next oppoents.

You have got to credit Rowe for turning things round tactically, the team against Eastleigh had many people scratching their heads wondering what the formation was, but in a few short months we’ve gone from a team of long ballers to a side that can play on the break and dominate midfield with crisp passing. For the past five seasons we’ve barely had a midfield to speak about, so the turnaround is tremendous to see.

Looking round the table, pace-setters Torquay United have finally let things slip, Hartlepool United beat them at Plainmoor and are equal on points, whist Sutton and Wrexham played out a dull 0-0 draw in front of the TV cameras. Sutton didn’t look any great shakes on that showing even though they are equal on 47 points at the top.

The National League’s lack of a decision on what’s going to happen with Dover Athletic looks more and more like the tail wagging the dog, as simply refusing to play must be met with some sort of punishment for the Kent side, otherwise other teams near the bottom could save themselves money by also refusing to fulfil their fixtures. Surely a points deduction for Dover next season would be one reasonable way out for the National League?

Anyway, no midweek game this week so a time to rest some legs and go again against Maidenhead on Saturday.