Pools and Chesterfield played out a 1-1 draw on a quietevening at Victoria Park.
On an evening that lacked any real spark, Pools had gone
ahead through Peter Kioso inside the first ten minutes but the visitors equalised
on 37 minutes and neither side could find a winner.There was an early let off for Pools as Chesterfield's big
striker Tom Denton watched his headed effort go just wide of Ben Killip's far
post.Following that effort though, it was Hignett's men who
dominated much of the first half, without having as many chances on goal as their
possession allowed.Gime Toure forced his way through into the box to fire in a
shot from the left that went across goal, taking a touch on its way wide of the
far post.And from the following corner, Pools went ahead; Josh Hawkes
sent the ball in from the right that was headed on by Michael Raynes before
falling for Peter Kioso who forced it home from close range.With a steady tempo to the game, there looked to be little
urgency about Chesterfield as Pools went on to dominate possession for a spell.
Hawkes got a good cross in from the right that picked out
Toure but the striker was just beaten to the ball by Shwan Jalal who grabbed
the ball from his feet.Gavan Holohan, playing wide right this evening, got a great
challenge in inside the box to deny Curtis Weston from getting a shot in, while
Ben Killip made a good save to deny Weston with a shot from the edge of the
box.Mark Kitching pushed to the by-line before pulling the ballback for Toure, who saw his shot blocked out for a corner by the defender.
And Toure tried again for Pools just after as he fired ashot at goal from the edge of the box that went just high over the bar.
The visitors drew level just before the break as a corner
from the left found towering striker Tom Denton in the box and he sent his
header over Killip and into the back of the net to make it 1-1 on 37 minutes.Chesterfield finished the half a much more confident outfit,
with chances for both Wakefield and Weston taking deflections as they went wide
of target.After going into the second half level, there was littlereal spark for much of the forty-five in what was a rather flat display.
There were no real chances at either end and the biggest
scare for Pools came around the hour mark when Ben Killip went down injured
after tackling for the ball on the edge of his box. Fortunately after some
treatment, the Pools keeper was able to continue.On 71 minutes a ball in from the right picked out Denton in
the box but from a central position inside the area, the tall striker volleyed well
wide.Pools lifted the pace a little after the chance and pushed
forward in numbers, with a great flick from Jason Kennedy in the middle setting
Toure away down the right. The striker picked out Josh Hawkes at the far post
with a pinpoint cross but Hawkes' final shot was held by Jalal.As the game neared a close though, it was Chesterfield who
looked the more likely to add to the scoresheet as they pushed forward, while
Pools struggled to break into the final third.And so the game finished in a rather scrappy draw, with bothteams lacking a real creative spark this evening.
Full Time: Pools 1 Chesterfield 1
Attendance: 2953 (133 Chesterfield)
Booked: Holohan (55), Richardson (87)
Pools: Killip, Holohan (James 88), Kioso, Raynes, Richardson, Kitching, Mafuta, Kennedy, Hawkes (Noble 78), Kabamba, Toure.
Subs Not Used: Bale, Cunningham, Crichlow-Noble.
Chesterfield: Jalal, Yarney, Evans, Rowley, Weston, Gevaro, Wedgbury, Wakefield (Mandeville 76), Denton, Hollis, Fondop (Boden 57).
Subs Not Used: Coddington, McGlashan, Sheridan.