On Saturday 7th January 2012 I was at the B2Net Stadium to watch Chesterfield take on fellow League 1 strugglers Exeter City.

Today’s game was another massive game for both sides and Chesterfield had to win to stand any real chance of getting out of relegation even at this stage in the season. Exeter were 5th to bottom coming in to the game and 6 points ahead of the Spireites, so Chesterfield had to close the gap with a win today.

Before the game we met up with Exeter fan Steve Thornely, who had made the long journey from Devon, for a chat and a picture.

The game got off to a very scrappy start and neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock in the first half. City’s goalkeeper made two decent saves towards the end of the half from Neal Trotman and then Jack Lester. However, this was the closest either side came to scoring in the first half and it was goalless at the break.

Chesterfield played slightly better in the first half but still neither side looked like they were going to take the 3 points. A potentially game changing moment came when Lester was brought down in the box and the referee awarded the Spireites a penalty.

Danny Whitaker, who hadn’t missed a penalty in the League for Chesterfield, stepped up but his spot kick was saved by Artur Krysiak and this seemed to give a boost the Grecians who had their best spell of the game after the miss.

With 12 minutes to go, Richard Logan headed the ball past Tommy Lee and in to the goal to give the away side the lead. 9 minutes later Liam Sercombe doubled Exeter’s lead with a low driven shot in to the bottom corner.

Now with it almost certainly becoming 16 games without a victory for Chesterfield, the fans became understandably angry and began to vent their frustration at both the players and manager. Chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” and “Sheridan Out” rang out around the B2Net Stadium and with the Spireites’ current position who can blame them. With another defeat against fellow League 1 strugglers, it is very difficult to see Chesterfield staying in League 1 even for the most optimistic of supporter.

After the game I had pictures with Exeter City players Liam Sercombe, Guillem Bauza, Richard Logan, Artur Krysiak, Scott Golbourne and Troy Archibald-Henville. I also met the Grecians director of footballer and FA Cup winner Steve Perryman and manager Paul Tisdale. Finally before heading home I had a picture with Chesterfield defender Neal Trotman.

Chesterfield 0-2 Exeter City

Logan ’78, Sercombe ’87

Lee, Ridehalgh, Trotman, Robertson, Talbot, Mendy (Boden ’86), Allott (Smith ’86), Whitaker, Westcarr (Niven ’32), Bowery, Lester

Krysiak, Tully, Archibad-Henville, Duffy (Coles ’83), Golbourne, Dunne, Sercombe, Noble, Nardiello (O’Flynn ’83), Logan, Bauza

Attendance: 5,856