Chesterfield 5
(Banks 25′, Dallas 27′, 40′, 61′, Mandeville 47′)
United 1
(McGavin 77′)
Chesterfield proved too strong for United on Tuesday, as the hosts strode to a 5-1 win at the Technique Stadium.
After Ollie Banks opened the scoring, two Andrews Dallas strikes before the break left The Gulls with a mountain to climb, with second-half goals from Liam Mandeville and Dallas – to complete his hat-trick – rubbing salt into Torquay’s wounds, before Brett McGavin netted a consolation strike late on.
Gary Johnson made one change to the starting line-up from the win over York City, with Tom Lapslie coming back in to replace Asa Hall, with the only other change coming on the bench, as McGavin replaced Ryan Hanson.
The Spireites were asking questions from the first whistle, as the men in yellow were forced to play a supporting role to their promotion-chasing hosts.
Johnson’s side were perhaps fortunate to survive a couple of near-misses at that point, however in the 25th minute, Lady Luck was nowhere to be seen, as Banks’ 25 yarder took a wicked deflection before looping up over a stranded Mark Halstead to open the scoring.
Although the home side were clearly on top, there was also an element of good fortune about Chesterfield’s second goal, which came just two minutes later, as Paul McCallum’s header cannoned down off the crossbar, but straight to the lurking Dallas, who had the simplest of tasks to stab home and double the advantage.
It should be said that despite their dominance, Jack Stobbs twice came close to opening his account, first with a shot from a narrow angle that forced goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons to gather at the second attempt, before the glovesman was forced to back-peddle desperately, prior to seeing Stobbs’ delicate chip just clear the crossbar.
It was to prove merely a brief interlude in the story of the game however, as Dallas found the net with a rising drive five minutes before the break, leaving United chasing shadows at 3-0.
Any faint hopes of a fightback were swiftly extinguished just two minutes after the break, with Mandeville this time well paced to finish off a confident move inside the box.
Despite The Gulls’ best efforts, there was no let-up in the almost constant pressure, and just past the hour mark Dallas completed his hat-trick, as Jeff King’s right-footed cross was delivered with precision, allowed the Chesterfield forward to hook the ball past Halstead from ten yards to make it five.
To their credit, Johnson’s side did begin to create a few opportunities in attack, and their persistence was finally rewarded on 77 minutes, as an inviting ball from Stobbs found McGavin by the penalty spot, with the United sub producing a smart turn and finish that deserved better than than being consigned to the ‘scant consolation’ category.
There was still time for Ollie Banks to have the ball in the net once more, although this time it was ruled out.
When the final whistle eventually sounded, there were celebrations amongst the home faithful, whilst the United faithful will be eager to move on from this as soon as possible.
Torquay’s five-match winning streak may be over, but they will almost certainly has to rediscover that habit again at Altrincham on Saturday.
Three points there, and its game on once again.
CHESTERFIELD: 1. Ross Fitzsimons, 5. Jamie Grimes, 6.Laurence Maguire, 7. Liam Mandeville, 10. Ryan Colclough, 15. Paul McCallum (27. Joe Quigley, 67′), 20. Jeff King, 21. Ash Palmer, 26. Darren Oldaker (4. Tim Akinola, 67′), 28. Ollie Banks, 29. Andrew Dallas (18. Jesurun Uchegbulam).
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Branden Horton, 12. Tyrone Williams.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie (5. Ali Omar, 28′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 11. Kieron Evans, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Jack Stobbs, 28. Kevin Dawson (14. Brett McGavin, 67′), 31. Lewis Collins, 45. Frank Nouble (15. Ben Wyatt, 76′).
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Dylan Crowe, 22. Rhys Lovett
Yellow Cards: Dawson 45+1.
Attendance: 6,005 (144 Away)