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Stockport County 2 Chesterfield 2

Simon Smedley
30/ 1/2008

ALTHOUGH County couldn’t stretch their League Two winning streak to five games, they played their part in a cracking game of football last night.

The match was a great advert for the division, with chances created at either end by two serious play-off contenders - facts that weren’t lost on Hatters boss Jim Gannon after the match.

He said: "That was a rip-roaring game. We played with grit and determination and caused them problems with some good set-plays, so considering we hadn’t played a game for 16 days I was pleased with the energy levels. It was a fantastic game. There was some great endeavour and skill out there and it must have been great for the fans to have watched."

Gannon will have been delighted to welcome club skipper Ashley Williams back following almost three months out with a knee injury, and it was the hosts who roared out of the blocks in their first game in more than a fortnight. Jason Taylor’s effort was blocked, Anthony Elding’s snapshot was saved by Barry Roche, before Brendan Maloney flashed a clever volley inches over the bar for the Spireites.

Chesterfield went in front on 16 minutes when Aaron Downes crossed and Steve Fletcher headed home. Jim McNulty flashed an instant response inches over from 20 yards and Adam Proudlock shot straight at ‘keeper Roche, before County deservedly got back on terms on 34 minutes. Sub Michael Rose - who replaced groin strain victim Gareth Owen 10 minutes earlier - swung over a free-kick, defender Gregor Robertson couldn’t clear, and there was Liam Dickinson who guided home the loose ball.

A predatory strike from Jack Lester put the visitors back in front just six minutes after the restart, but again County hit back just past the hour mark.

Again Rose crossed, Leon McSweeney helped the ball on, and there was Elding who neatly tucked home his 15th goal of the season.

Former Hatter Jamie Ward missed a gilt-edged chance for Chesterfield on 72 minutes, but it was County who finished well on top. Elding’s fierce shot was saved and Dickinson headed over, but Gannon’s battlers just couldn’t find a winner.