Gary Johnson’s side will be looking to build on last weekend’s win at Plainmoor when they head to Derbyshire to take on league leaders Chesterfield in front of the BT Sport cameras tomorrow evening.
The Spirietes have begun the season in perfect fashion and are currently riding high at the top of table, however fresh from the 1-0 victory over Southend last time out, Gary Johnson’s men will be looking to draw inspiration from their previous visit to the Technique stadium, and provide a further boost to their own early-season form.
Who’s the Boss?
James Rowe’s Spireites are unbeaten so far this season with five wins and two draws. Rowe departed his previous managerial position at Gloucester City to take the helm at the Technique Stadium in November last year, with his contract seeing him remain there until the end of the 2022/23 season. At the time his Gloucester City side were top of the National League North and the manager himself said to Gloucestershire Live that “it was not an easy decision” to depart Gloucester for Chesterfield.
A former striker himself, Rowe took up his first coaching role at Birmingham City at the age of 27, before he went on to join West Ham as Assistant Academy Manager. Rowe holds a UEFA A Licence and a Sports Science Masters Degree and in 2016 also graduated from a Masters degree in Coaching at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Amsterdam.
Player to Watch
Former Boreham Wood prolific forward Kabongo Tshimanga arrived at the Technique Stadium over the summer. Tshimanga has continued his goal-scoring antics at his new Club having scored seven goals in seven appearances for the Spireites, including a hattrick in the sides 4-2 home victory against Barnet earlier last month.
He previously spent two seasons at Boreham Wood where he established himself as a fan favourite and scored 41 goals in 88 appearances for the Wood. The 24-year-old has also previously played for the likes of Aldershot Town, Chelmsford City, Corby Town, Nuneaton Town, Icelandic side Thróttur, MK Dons, Boston United and Oxford City.
Played for Both
Scott Boden arrived at Plainmoor on loan from Chesterfield in February, and remained with United until the conclusion of the 2020/21 season. The 31-year-old scored 6 goals in 18 appearances for Gary Johnson’s side before signing on at Boreham Wood over the summer.
The forward began his career at hometown club Sheffield United in 2007 and has gone on to have spells at the likes of Macclesfield Town, FC Halifax Town, Newport County, Scottish Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Wrexham and Gateshead.
Previous Encounter
Chesterfield 0 – 2 Torquay United, 03/05/21, National League
A goal in each half saw United bring the points back to Plainmoor. Gary Johnson’s side took the lead in the 11th minute with a great pass by Jake Andrews finding Lemonheigh-Evans in the middle who was able to slot the ball past Grant Smith from close range.
The home side pushed for an equaliser and at times tested United keeper Lucas Covolan and just before the hour mark, Dean Moxey was forced to clear a Chesterfield effort off the line.
It was Billy Waters who doubled the advantage in the 76th minute, with a left-footed strike from just outside the box.
United’s 2-0 win at Chesterfield in May saw the side extend their lead at the top of the National League, whilst it marked the Spireites fourth defeat in six, but the Derbyshire side sat two points outside the play-offs. The result also marked the first time United had won a league fixture away at Chesterfield in 50 years.