Clinical Chesterfield go 16 points clear at top of National League after beating Southend United – report
James Berry put the Spireites ahead after just four minutes with a beautiful curling finish off the underside of the crossbar.
Joe Quigley scored with his first touch just seconds after coming on in the second-half to double Town’s lead before fellow substitute Armando Dobra blasted in another brilliant goal.
With Bromley losing at AFC Fylde, it means the Spireites are 16 points clear at the top of the table and they still have two games in hand. Although nobody will be getting carried away, it is looking increasingly likely that the Blues will be playing in League Two next season and ending their six-year stay in the National League.
Incredibly, this was their 18th successive home win in all competitions which is a club record. These three goals also take them to a magnificent 72 bagged in the league.
Southend are a good side and they had some chances in the first-half, but they failed to take them, unlike the clinical hosts, and they ended up paying the price.
Manager Paul Cook freshened up the starting line-up from the midweek win against Woking with Ryheem Sheckleford, Bailey Clements, Michael Jacobs and Berry replacing Jeff King, Branden Horton, Ollie Banks and Dobra. Sheckleford came back in after recovering from a shin injury, Clements was making his first Spireites start of the season after being recalled from his loan at Eastleigh, while Berry was given a chance to impress from the start rather than off the bench.
Southend, who beat Chesterfield in the reverse fixture at Roots Hall, had not played for two weeks after having three successive fixtures postponed. Although the Shrimpers’ takeover has not officially been completed, the consortium has invested money into the playing squad, allowing manager Kevin Maher to bring in some reinforcements. Without their 10-point deduction, Southend, who had the best defensive record in the division before kick-off, would be in the play-offs so their mid-table position is a bit false.
In an entertaining and open first-half, it was Southend who threatened first but Gus Scott-Morriss’ acrobatic attempt went wide.
But it was Town who took the lead on four minutes when Berry played a smart one-two with Darren Oldaker before brilliantly curling into the top corner via the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box.
The Shrimpers were denied an instant equaliser when Tyrone Williams did ever so well to clear an effort from Marcus Dackers off the line.
