It was a good day for City as they swept past Chesterfield at the ProAct after coming from behind to score three times and take all three points. Alex Whitmore gave Chesterfield a first half lead, before Michael Bostwick equalised on the stroke of half time. Scott Wharton nudged The Imps in front early in the second period but the best was left until last via the right boot of Ollie Palmer, taking on two defenders before finishing in front of the travelling supporters
City pressed right from the off, Elliott Whitehouse charged down Drew Talbot’s attempted crossfield pass and set Jordan Williams free down the right, his low ball was cleared for a corner within two minutes. The ball into the box found Scott Wharton at the back post, it wasn’t cleared and it was almost forced home but an infringement was spotted deep inside the area.
Over 1,800 travelling supporters kept up the volume as another corner went the way of City just a couple of minutes later and again, it was the ball deep into the area causing panic but Wharton’s knockdown was lashed clear Andy Kellett with Michael Bostwick lurking.
City stayed in the ascendancy and the next attack down the right almost resulted in the opening goal, Neal Eardley linked with Whitehouse who looped the ball into the box, Matt Green met it powerfully but his header was expertly tipped round the post by Aaron Ramsdale. Wharton won the header again at the back post, Whitehouse then tried to help it into the goal but Ramsdale was in the right place to save again.
Chesterfield probed down their right but there was no real threat to the Imps’ goal with Ryan Allsop untested. There was a delay in play midway through the first half after a Chesterfield supporter fell ill and as a result the air ambulance was deployed. Both sets of supporters paid the utmost of respect to the supporter and the first responders and there was a delay of around 30 minutes before the game got back underway.
Jacob Brown made a dart for the edge of the box for the Spireites and hit a shot that flashed over the top of Allsop’s goal. Chesterfield were to get themselves ahead, a cross from the left by Josh Kay was met by Alex Whitmore at the back post, heading across Allsop into the corner of the net.
A lovely move from City in midfield was started by the advancing Bostwick, he fed the ball to Alex Woodyard, Whitehouse helped it to Eardley and Lee Frecklington hit it first time but Kellett just got in the way of the effort which was arrowing towards the bottom corner.
Right on the stroke of half time The Imps won a corner, Sam Habergham swung it into the box and there was BOSTWICK to thump home a header at the back post to equalise.
Half Time
Chesterfield 1 The Imps 1
The home side had the first effort of note in the second period, as Brown hammered a right footed drive on target which Allsop pushed away with a strong pair of hands, a good save as the rain hammered down making conditions difficult for the City ‘keeper.
Kay whistled a free kick right through the heart of the Imps’ box, which only needed a touch, but Allsop expertly watched it right out of play for a goal kick.
Williams made a positive run into the Chesterfield half, taking three home defenders with him and won City’s seventh of the game as they looked to get themselves in front. It was cleared under the nose of Whitehouse who looked certain to get on it, but the eighth corner for The Imps was to bring that second goal. WHARTON who had been a constant threat throughout, leapt the highest to head home in front of the travelling supporters.
Kay made another burst from midfield and shot but it was into the midriff of Allsop who easily saved. Harry Anderson came on to add a little more width to the City midfield and he supported fellow sub Ollie Palmer after Whitehouse won the ball, Anderson’s low cross was scuffed clear and Bostwick tried to score from range but his effort was off target. Williams then smashed a wonderful shot on the half volley from the most acute of angles, but Ramsdale managed to tip over. Bostwick had a header on target from the resulting flag kick but Ramsdale saved.
Chesterfield attacked and crossed from the right to the back post, Bradley Barry fired a cross back to Kristian Dennis but his first time effort hit the side netting in a rare attack from the Spireites.
Palmer fired in a low cross right into the heart of the Chesterfield area as City looked to finish the game with a flourish but Anderson just couldn’t get ahead of his marker. But the third goal was to come with five minutes remaining and what a goal it was. PALMER took control just outside the area, he twisted and turned, bamboozling the defence before curling home with the outside of his right boot sending the away fans into raptures.
Full Time
Chesterfield 1 The Imps 3
Chesterfield
1 Aaron RAMSDALE
10 Chris O’GRADY
17 George SMITH
22 Drew TALBOT
24 Andy KELLETT
26 Jak McCOURT
27 Bradley BARRY
33 Alex WHITMORE
35 Sid NELSON
37 Josh KAY
44 Jacob BROWN
Substitutes
30 Dylan PARKIN
9 Kristian DENNIS (64’ for O Grady)
15 Joe ROWLEY (81’ for Smith)
41 Zavon HINES (64’ for Kay)
20 Lawrence MAGUIRE
21 Jack BROWNELL
2 Marshall WILLOCK
Booked: Talbot 84’ Rowley 90’
GOAL: Whitmore 31’
The Imps
22 Ryan ALLSOP
3 Sam HABERGHAM
4 Elliott WHITEHOUSE
6 Scott WHARTON
9 Matt RHEAD
10 Matt GREEN
14 Jordan WILLIAMS
16 Michael BOSTWICK
19 Lee FRECKLINGTON
23 Neal EARDLEY
30 Alex WOODYARD
Substitutes
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Sean LONG
7 Tom PETT (89’ for Williams)
8 Ollie PALMER (68’ for Rhead)
12 Ellis CHAPMAN
26 Harry ANDERSON (65’ for Green)
36 Declan O’HARE
Booked: Woodyard 11’ Frecklington 41’ Palmer 90'
Goal: Bostwick 45’ Wharton 59’ Palmer 85’
Referee: David Webb
Assistants: Sam Lewis & Matthew Jones
Attendance: 6395 (1899 Imps Supporters)