Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith
Chesterfield launched a second half comeback to claim a point against Crawley Town, with their League Two meeting ending 2-2 on an emotional afternoon at the SMH Group Stadium.
Crawley had found themselves two up after a pair of first-half goals from Harry McKirdy, the latter coming from the penalty spot, only for that brace to be cancelled out by a quick-fire double from Dylan Duffy and Armando Dobra.
Saturday marked the Spireites’ first fixture since the loss of owner Phil Kirk, whose passing at the age of 59 was confirmed by the club earlier in the week.
A moving minute’s applause was held prior to this game, with supporters joining to acknowledge a key figure in their side’s resurgence from non-league to become one of the fourth tier’s leading lights.
As the action then got under way though it was the away team who made the brighter start, opening the scoring with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
McKirdy was the man who got that goal, latching on to a long ball which caused confusion in the opposing back line before coolly rounding ‘keeper Zach Hemming to slot home.
That lead would be doubled via the same source later in the first 45, with the Red Devils striker showing similar composure to convert from 12 yards after Kyle McFadzean was judged to have committed a foul in the box.
A 2-0 half-time score line reflected the struggle the hosts had in imposing themselves on the match, with their only real chance coming through a Duffy free-kick which whistled just over the crossbar.
As that inactivity continued after the restart it appeared it would take something rather special to get Paul Cook’s side going, and it would be Duffy who duly obliged by bending a beautiful effort into the top corner to halve the deficit.
And in the blink of an eye it was all level again, as an up to that point rare flowing home move was swept in by Dobra on 58 minutes, just one shy of another emotive applause held in Kirk’s honour.
The final half hour would be a far more open affair with both sides having chances to add a fifth and final goal to the game, but 2-2 it would remain as the final whistle sounded.
Having fought admirably to seal a point here, Chesterfield will be gunning for all three when they visit Walsall in their next league fixture, which presents the chance to avenge last season’s play-off semi-final defeat.
