Aussie rules as Chesterfield return to hockey promotion frame

Van Staden scored twice and unleashed a man-of-the-match performance as Chesterfield won 5-3 away to Khalsa Leamington, despite being forced to field an under-strength side.

Joe Morton also hit the target twice, while Quinn Clarke delivered a cool finish to cap an assured performance by the visitors in what has always been a tricky fixture for them.

They now sit second in the Second Division table, just one point behind leaders Olton and West Warwick, who beat another of the title-chasers, Telford and Wrekin, 2-1 in the big match of the day. Both Telford and Streetly are now two points behind Chesterfield.

Morton broke the deadlock, tapping home at the far post, and later scored again to make it 3-0 after Van Staden had opened his account by shooting home from the top of the circle.

Khalsa pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Clarke, making his first-team league debut, brilliantly lobbed the ‘keeper to make it 4-1 at half-time.

To their credit, the hosts rallied and cut the deficit twice more in the second period. But in between the two goals, Van Staden dispatched his second penalty corner of the game.

Stand-in skipper Dan Molloy said: “We did exactly what we needed to do. They have some players with real quality, so a 5-3 win is excellent. We created loads of chances and should have scored more.”