Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

CHESTERFIELD 2 – 2 DROYLSDEN

FA Cup Second Round – Tuesday 9 December 2008

Report by Gary Owen

Amidst a bizarre moment of potential controversy, The Bloods remain on the trail of FA Cup glory following this hard-fought draw at a frosty Saltergate on Tuesday night to earn a replay at the Butcher's Arms next Tuesday evening (16th December).

The score was level at 1-1 in this re-scheduled tie, following an abandonment due to fog ten days earlier. With around 15 minutes remaining, Carl Lamb went down injured in the centre circle after challenging for a high ball, suffering from the effects of an accidental elbow to the midriff. As the ball ran to Craig Mawson in the Droylsden goal, he threw the ball into touch so that Lamb could obtain treatment.

Chesterfield returned the ball to play, and Jack Lester, totally unchallenged and uncontested just outside the Droylsden box, turned and clipped the ball back towards Mawson. However, the ball curled over the Droylsden ‘keeper's head and into the net, giving the referee no alternative but to award the goal.

All hell broke loose on the touchline, resulting in the dismissal of Bloods' assistant Gary Bauress to the stands. However, some sensible consultations, including between Mawson and Spirerites' skipper Kevin Austin, resulted in parity being restored, as Chesterfield allowed Steve Halford to walk the ball into their unguarded goal.

"I approached Dave Penny about the situation and he said ‘What can I do?!'" said Dave Pace afterwards. "He's the manager – he's in control, and so he should have known what to do straight away!!"

Perhaps Lester was attempting to return the ball straight to Mawson's hands, rather than conceding a goal-kick or throw-in, to save time, but only Lester himself can answer that one.

This was all reminiscent of two seasons ago, when (losing by a goal to nil) Droylsden's Chris Denham returned the ball to the Worcester City ‘keeper from the half-way line, and inadvertently found the net. Whilst there was naturally some commotion at that time, it was little compared to this, as Droylsden were quickly clear in their intentions to allow Worcester to restore their one-goal advantage, which they duly did.

Long before all of this commotion, though, Droylsden fell behind to on 31 minutes to a Jamie Ward strike – the first goal conceded against League Two opposition in over 250 minutes of football, which itself is creditworthy for a Blue Square North side!

Ironically, at that point, the goal came against the run of play, with Droylsden taking the game to their hosts, much to the frustration of the swelled home crowd.

Chesterfield began very well, zipping the ball around the surface with slick passing to find their frontmen, leaving Droylsden chasing shadows, and many thought we could be in for a long night.

The Bloods regained some composure, though, and Matthew Tipton almost caught them cold with a snap-shot volley from fully 25 yards, which flew just wide of Trevor Carson's left-hand upright, with the Chesterfield ‘keeper beaten.

At the other end, Mawson had to be off his line quickly to save at the feet of Gregor Robertson, after the midfielder had made a bursting run into Droylsden's box.

Neil Prince shot over, and then Alex Brown went even closer as Droylsden began to assert themselves, to the frustration of the home crowd. Lamb then also saw his shot blocked by Aaron Downes.

Hence, it was rather against the run of play at that time when the hosts took the lead. It was from a Droylsden attack that Carson collected the ball on the edge of his box and punted long upfield to Ward. He allowed the ball to drop over his shoulder, before picking his spot past Mawson.

Tipton and Neil Sorvel then registered shots on goal, before Lamb forced a save from Carson from Sean Newton's cross.

It didn't take long for The Bloods to level matters after the break, though, when Tipton rolled the ball to Liam Brownhill on the right flank, and his cross to the near post was met by Alex Brown, of all people, to guide a glancing header over Carson and into the far corner, in front of the 300+ travelling Droylsden fans.

On the hour mark, Mawson saved well from Jamie Winter and Robertson was off target for the home side, and a swerving effort from Alan Goodall had Mawson saving at this near post.

Then came the moment which could feature on a future "what happened next," but in the remaining minutes, Chesterfield had a number of chances to win the game. Firstly, Lloyd Kerry pulled his shot wide with only Mawson to beat, and then a slip by Mike Byron allowed Ward a clean run at goal, but Mawson pulled-off a brave save and Robertson couldn't adjust to react to the second ball.

In added time, Colin Cryan misjudged the ball, allowing Lester in, but he fired wide, leaving the home fans calling for the head of Spirerites' manager Lee Richardson, and battle to recommence at the Butcher's.

TEAMS:

Chesterfield

Carson, Gray, Goodall, Austin, Downes, Winter, Kerry, Currie (Boden, 73'), Robertson, Ward, Lester.

Unused Subs: Lee, Picken, Harsley, Hall, Algar, Teixeira

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Cryan, Halford (Byron, 83'), Sorvel (Pickford, 67'), Beck, Brown, Tipton, Lamb, Prince (Townson, 73').

Unused Subs: Burbeary, Roche, Clancy, Tandy.

Referee: Mr. A. Woolmer (Kettering, Northamptonshire)

ATTENDANCE: 5,698