Will Grigg and Dylan Duffy return to help Chesterfield win Trophy shoot-out
Two players who have been out of the reckoning this season returned to the fold to help Chesterfield get the better of Port Vale in the newly-named Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
Will Grigg and Dylan Duffy both came off the substitutes’ bench and scored from the spot as the Spireites beat Port Vale 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to take an extra point after the Group D fixture had finished 1-1.
Neither had played since the final game of last season, Duffy because of injury and veteran striker Grigg because he has drifted out of the first team picture. He has been expected to leave the club.
“Will has remained professional and trained fantastically,” said assistant manager Danny Webb.
"He has been involved this time, scored a good penalty and he’s another one involved who are ready if selected.”
Duffy converted the final spot-kick after Ryan Boot had saved two of Vale’s efforts. Duffy had wanted to take the fourth but it was decided he’d take the fifth.
"The order of the takers was organised during the game,” explained Webb. “I said to Dyl ‘just make sure you score’. There was a bit of pressure on him because when you’ve been out so long you want to work your way in gradually rather than in a penalty shoot-out where there’s a bit of nail-biting going on.
"He’s a cool character, very confident, and I’m pleased he’s back in the fold.”
The extra point collected from the shoot-out win leaves Chesterfield with five points from their opening two games and in a good position to qualify for the knock-out stages heading into the final Group fixture at Mansfield Town next month.
Port Vale were playing their first game of the season in the competition and should have been out of sight by half time.
Instead the visitors had only a goal from Onel Hernandez to show for their efforts and a Chesterfield side very similar side to the one which beat Manchester City U21s last week came more into it and levelled in the second half with a nicely taken effort Louie Marsh, on as a sub. It was his fourth goal since deadline week his loan switch from Sheffield United.
Marsh also netted in the shoot-out along with Liam Mandeville.
Added Webb: “There weren’t high fives and cheers in the dressing room afterwards but there was a real happy feeling among the players who played because you can’t beat waking up on a Wednesday when you’ve got a day off after a nice win on a Tuesday night.”
The result stretched the Spireites’ unbeaten run to six matches and there’s a chance to climb into the League Two play-off frame when they go to Cheltenham on Saturday.