Spireites Lose Cup Tie At Matlock.

A crowd of 478 turned up at Causeway Lane to watch this Semi final tie of the Derbyshire Senior Cup. Matlock aiming to win the trophy for the 7th time in their history, the Spireites have never won it.

The Spireites fielded an almost entire Youth side apart from Hazel, Wafula and Broadhead who have experienced first team football although very little. Where as Matlock fielded a very experienced side, full of first team players.

In the 10th minute Hazel who spent a month on loan at Matlock earlier this season was brought down in the penalty box by Foster. the young striker then took the spot kick, scoring in the left corner of the net.

James Ashmore was controlling midfield as Matlock were trying to get back into the game. McDonald came close to scoring, just failing with an header. Moments later Foster picked out McDonald with a lovely pass, he calmly stroked the ball past Barrington to put the sides level.

H.T 1-1.

Messiah McDonald who had been a constant threat throughout scored his second, when he met a cross from Featherstone, converting from 6 yards out. Had he scored the winner just like he did when Matlock knocked Mansfield out of the FA Trophy earlier this season. Hazel almost equalised when his effort was blocked on the line by the experienced Matlock skipper James Lukic.

F.T. 2-1.

In the end Matlock deserved their win, I would like to wish them all the best in the final. They will play the winners of the match between Alfreton and Ilkeston, which will be on the 19th of March.

It was always going to be tough for the young Spireites against an experienced physical Matlock sides. Cook probably felt he didn't want to risk players like Clay, Gnanduillet, Townsend and Brindley because of an important match coming up on Saturday against League Leaders Gillingham. A match they must win if they want to keep their hopes alive of reach the play-offs.

Matlock Town: Kennedy, Harcourt, Featherstone, Foster, Yates, Lukic, Grayson,(Dennis 82), Ashmore, McDonald, Davies, Griffiths-Junior

Chesterfield: Barrington, Slack,(McNicholas 88), Clarke, Scully, Broadhead, Whittaker, Wafula, Hewitt, Bowland,(Mason 70), Hazel, Fereday.

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