Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith
Chesterfield’s chances of progression through Group H (Northern Section) of the Vertu Trophy were given a boost on Tuesday, as they beat Burton Albion 1-0 at the SMH Group Stadium.
Lee Bonis came off the bench to grab the only goal of the game and maintain home hopes of qualification from the group stage.
The Spireites came into this fixture having suffered a bruising 6-2 defeat down at Colchester United in League Two on Saturday.
Their previous outing in this particular competition, meanwhile, made for equally grim reading as Crewe Alexandra handed out a 7-1 hammering last month.
Paul Cook’s side had, though, beaten Burton 5-0 when these two teams met in pre-season, offering at least something of a positive omen as they looked to return to winning ways against the same opponent.
Any chance of goal glut here looked rather remote at the halfway point, however, with the only real action of the first 45 seeing James Berry have a shot blocked at the end of a determined run.
Things were slightly more active once play resumed, with the Brewers’ Nick Akoto forcing Ryan Boot into action before Berry was needed in a defensive capacity to clear an effort off the line.
But, after another lengthy lull, it would be the hosts who finally broke the deadlock with a little over 10 minutes to go, as substitute Bonis was ultimately adjudged to have poked home Ronan Darcy’s deflected cross.
And that would be enough to settle the contest, with three points meaning a result against Liverpool Under 21s could well secure Cook and Co. a place in the next phase of the competition.
Next up for Chesterfield though is a chance to build on a win and clean sheet when they’re back on home soil again, returning to league action against Salford City on Saturday.
