Chesterfield Hockey Club coach says winning ugly was a positive

But after they fought back from a goal behind at half-time to win 2-1, he added: “The one positive is we showed enough character and personality to win ugly.”

Chesterfield got of jail on Saturday after an insipid performance against a well-organised Loughborough.

A goal a piece from Aiden Van Staden and Harvey Bessell were enough, however, to spare the home side’s blushes against the mid-table visitors.

A bright first 20 minutes soon gave way to a less than stellar display from Chesterfield.

Battye added: “Apart from a decent start, we were awful. Loughborough defended very well, but we lacked intelligence and patience.

“We expected them to roll over for us but they worked incredibly hard and made it difficult. I think we showed a lack of maturity in our play but, thankfully, we got over the line.

“In the second half our basics went out the window, we didn’t do the simple thing and it nearly cost us.”

The home side dominated early on and created a series of chances before the visitors took the lead against the run of play through an unstoppable shot past the returning Matt Drohan.

Loughborough then more than held their own for the remainder of the half as Chesterfield stuttered.

Despite a poor end to the period, Chesterfield began the second in no mood to surrender their 13-game unbeaten run.

Battye provided bite in the midfield, whilst Josh Beardsley and Bessell added touches of much needed creativity.

After sustained pressure the home side found an equaliser when Van Staden fired home a penalty corner.

Chesterfield then began to assert themselves and were rewarded with a somewhat bizarre second goal from Bessell when the young Tasmanian’s speculative effort rolled under the keeper’s foot and into the net.

The visitors continued to apply pressure, however, and were unlucky not to force an equaliser as exceptional defending from full backs Ben Curley and Van Staden kept them out.

Battye, who said the match should serve as a wake-up call, added: “We have to take the lessons from today and move on. If we play like that next week at Harborne we’ll be punished, no question.”

Chesterfield: Drohan (GK); Bacon, Van Staden, Curley, Brocklehurst (c); Bessel, Battye, Hancock, Speed; Molloy, Hartley. Rotations: Moores, Beardsley, Green, Evans.