Chesterfield 2-1 Notts County – League 2

On Wednesday 19th August I went to watch Chesterfield play Sven Goran Eriksson’s Notts County at Saltergate.

It was a big game for both sides, Notts County had been in form winning there first two games of the season 5 – 0 against Bradford City and 4-0 v Macclesfield Town.Chesterfield had beaten to Northampton 1-0 just four days earlier but had lost to Torquay United 0-2 onm the opening day.

Notts County fans filled the away end with 2,191 fans and all three Chesterfield ends were also pretty much full making a superb atmosphere for the game with an attendance of over 6,000. There was lots of rivalry between the two teams and both sides desperately wanted the victory.

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The Notts County fans

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The full away end

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…and a full Kop

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Chesterfield players warm up just before kick off

In the early parts of the match both teams had chances but cancelled each other out. The best chance of the first half fell to Jack Lester but he put the shot wide so it was 0-0 at half time.

Chesterfield began to control the game in the second half and on the 78th minute Jack Lester was brough down in the penalty area and Jamie Lowry smashed the ball home for a 1-0 lead. Just two minutes later Drew Talbot was sliced down once again in the penalty area for another penalty area. Once again Jamie Lowry camly slotted the shot home to take Chesterfield 2-0 ahead with just 10 minutes left and almost certain victory.

This sent a buzz around Saltergate and there was a fantastic atmosphere however just a few minutes later the Spireites gave away a soft goal, a header from Notts County’s Mike Edwards. The final few minutes were very tense and exciting with Notts desperately trying to find that equalizer but luckily for the Chesterfield fans it never came meaning Chesterfield took all 3 points and became the first club to beat Notts County this season.

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Jamie Lowry, scorer of both goals, in action

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Jamie Lowry prepares to take a penalty

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Happy Chesterfield fans make there way home

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After the game I met John Salako who was reporting for Sky Sports, man of the match Jamie Lowry, Chesterfield manager John Sheridan, Notts County manager Ian McParland and the Magpies new signing and former Spireiter Brendan Moloney, and former Chesterfield goalkeeper Carl Muggleton.

Most exciting though was meeting Sven Goran Eriksson, Notts County’s new director of football and former England manager. I was lucky enough to see him walking down the corridor towards me on the way out and I got my photo with him. He had a photo with my Dad as well and was very polite and it was a great way to end the day.

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