Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith.
Chesterfield played out a chaotic six-goal thriller with Accrington Stanley at the SMH Group Stadium, both trailing 2-0 and leading 3-2 on their way to an eventual 3-3 draw.
Tom Naylor, Lee Bonis and James Berry swung the game on its head following Tyler Walton’s first-half double, only to see substitute Charlie Caton level things once more at the other end.
The Spireites returned to League Two action having spent back-to-back weekends out on the road, conceding late in a 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers before claiming the scalp of League One Stevenage with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup first round.
Those results extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, with Paul Cook’s side having successfully steadied the ship after a 6-2 humbling at Colchester United last month.
But the hosts would find themselves in rocky waters early in this one, as Walton caught the ball beautifully on the bounce to open the scoring after Isaac Heath’s initial break-away had ended in a blocked shot.
And shortly after the Stanley striker would add his side’s second from close range, sparking significant protests from home fans and players who were adamant of an offside in the build-up.
No flag would be forthcoming, though the deficit was reduced back down to one right before the break as Naylor rose highest to meet a teasing cross from Berry.
Having struggled for much of the opening 45 that felt like just the bolt of inspiration the blues needed and indeed they would kick on and level the game not long after the restart, with Bonis showing great composure to lift the ball over opposing ‘keeper Ollie Wright and in.
And just past the hour a remarkable turnaround was complete with Berry this time turning goal-scorer, nodding in from close range after some fine work from Dilan Markanday.
Still the pendulum wasn’t done swinging though, as a mix-up at the back gave Caton a chance he could barely have missed and he would not, meaning the game was all level yet again.
There was even room for one final bit of drama in stoppage time as Bonis was presented the chance to win the game from the penalty spot, as he had done in the aforementioned cup win at Stevenage.
However, he couldn’t repeat the trick this time around, with hero status instead going to Wright as he was able to claw the spot-kick out of the bottom corner of his goal.
Watch the penalty miss here……
Chesterfield’s next fixture following this rollercoaster contest sees them on home soil again, as they take on Liverpool Under 21s needing a result to progress through the group stage of the Vertu Trophy.
