Blues Clinch Victory Over In-Form Young Spireites

Long Eaton United Community FC Academy hung on and battled at the NJD Community Football Arena to clinch a 2-1 victory over Chesterfield FC Academy.

Alans Voskresenskis netted the only goal of the first half with only 13 minutes on the clock, and then, the Blues doubled their lead through a penalty won and converted by Ryan Bache early in the second half.

Mackenzie Ross netted midway through the second half for the visitors but - despite constant pressure - the Blues stayed solid at the back and hung on for the win.

Curtis Burrows made two changes to the starting XI that drew against Basford United last week - Ben Bowers began in goal ahead of the absent Mitchell Leivers, and Riley Phillips made the starting line-up ahead of Hugo Broughton, who began on the bench.

Both teams looked to take charge of the match early on, which meant that the defences had to be alert and strong from the outset.

Chesterfield had two huge chances in the opening 10 minutes - one from a freekick taken by their Number 7 and one through a well-worked passage of play that allowed Number 8 to get a shot off on goal.

Centre back partners, Marley Fearon and Louis Meadowcroft were called into action during both those chances, as Fearon rose highest to clear the dangerous free-kick and Meadowcroft displayed some fantastic last-ditch defending to close the space and deny the forward a clear shot on goal.

However, it was in fact the young Blues that opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Andrew Tsolakis dispatched a perfectly timed through ball over the top of the defence and onto the run of Voskresenskis who, with composure, drifted off his man and curled an effort around the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The young Spireites were gifted a chance 20 minutes later, as some miscommunication down the wing allowed Number 2 to drive down the flank and play an early cross into the box, which could not be dealt with properly by Tsolakis, although - luckily - their Number 3 could only drag a shot wide of the target.

Minutes before half-time, Bache gathered the ball just outside the box and sent an unorthodox strike towards the goal, but the visitors' shot-stopper saved well.

Long Eaton began the second half as the more determined of the two, and that showed, as Bache flew forward onto a through ball and was brought down inside the box after only 2 minutes.

A late challenge that received no punishment, however, the penalty was superbly and calmly converted by Bache to double the Blues' lead.

It did not take long for the visitors to find a way back into the match with Ross - loitering on the edge of the box - as a cross came in and could only be cleared as far as the midfielder, who struck a venomous effort first time that flew into the back of the net.

Another chance developed for the visitors' Number 3 in the 54th minute - this time a cross fell to the full-back inside the box and he acted quickly to get a shot off on goal, but even quicker were the reactions of Bowers who flung a leg out to save the shot from close range.

Broughton came close for the Blues in the 72nd minute, as the forward drove down the by-line and looked to shoot, but could only find the gloves of the goalkeeper.

The young Spireites then went down the other end and did the same thing, although this time the winger cut the ball to the edge of the box for a shot, although once again Bowers saved comfortably.

Two big chances came the Blues' way in the final five minutes - the first through Bache who turned his man and got a shot off on goal from just outside the box, but the Chesterfield shot-stopper once again came to the rescue.

And the final through Breeyen Grainger, as Nathan Dean drove into the box and set up Grainger with a delicate pass towards the edge of the D, but unfortunately the midfielders strike curled just wide of the target.