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April 2022
Sky Bet League One
Chesterfield 3-1 Gillingham
Ballabio 27
Spyrou 29
Jakubiak 70
First up in April was a home clash against bottom of the league and recently relegated Gillingham. It was an emotional one for me, having been a Gills fan since I was 10, however knowing that a win could see us promoted should other results go our way, I had to put all sentimental ties aside.
We started much the better side. After just 5 minutes, Anthony Spyrou headed narrowly wide from a Dan Thomas cross before just a minute later, he weaved around 2 defenders before finding the foot of the post with his low drive.
However we took the lead on 27 minutes with Matti Ballabio's second goal in as many games. It was a carbon copy of his goal against Birmingham, with Oldaker delivering from a left sided corner to find the Italian in space who tapped the ball past Harry Lewis in the Gills goal.
2 minutes later we doubled our advantage. The ball came to Wes McDonald on the right, who beat his man before crossing to the near post where Spyrou connected with a fearsome volley to make it 2-0.
Things quietened from there, and on the verge of the break, James Brown had to head Connor Ogilvie's goal bound header off the line, however we went in at the break unscathed.
After the break, we continued to press, with Spyrou twice denied by brilliant saves from Lewis.
However it was the Gills who pulled one back just after the hour. A free kick from Regan Charles-Cook found Mikael Mandron in the middle who headed home from close range.
However 10 minutes later we wrapped up the points. A long ball from Dan Thomas was flicked on by Spyrou, and substitute Alex Jakubiak burst through to slot home the Spireites' third against the club he was once on loan at.
That was enough for the 3 points, but unfortunately due to Portsmouth's win against Rochdale and Mansfield's draw against Coventry, we will have to wait for the promotion party.
Sky Bet League One
Chesterfield 2-2 Fleetwood Town
Kamwa 12
Spyrou 90+1
Our final home fixture of the season was our biggest one yet. With Portsmouth having beaten Charlton 3-0 in the Friday night fixture, we knew that a point would be enough to secure promotion and a win enough to secure the title in our clash against 6th place Fleetwood.
We started well. Just 12 minutes were on the clock when Bobby Kamwa got on the end of a long ball from Dan Thomas, before beating his man and thumping a low drive into the far corner for a fantastic goal.
We were unlucky not to be 3 or 4 goals up before the break, Crellin did well to deny Bobby Kamwa a second, before he diverted Spyrou's close range shot over the bar after Yarney's header was cleared off the line from a corner.
The second half was a much quieter affair for the most part, and Fleetwood pushed to get back in the game.
On 85 minutes they got their equaliser. Danny Andrew delivered a free kick from the left onto the head of Ashley Eastham, who found the far corner to put the Cod Army on terms. Disappointment, but at least a point would still see us promoted.
We pushed men forward in search of a winner but were caught on the break. Crellin played a long goal kick which Ryan Rydel got on the end of, before running through and chipping the ball over Coddington to make it 2-1 in the 88th minute.
The game wasn't over there. Despite the sombre mood, we pushed forward for an equaliser and found it in the first minute of four added. Ward's corner from the left was clear as far as Oldaker, who returned it to the right winger. His one touch pass found Spyrou who blasted the ball into the far corner to send a sold out Proact into pandemonium to confirm our promotion.
Sky Bet League One
Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Chesterfield
Spyrou 45
Pyke 66
We went into our away fixture at 4th place Doncaster knowing that a point would be enough to secure the title, however should the worst happen, Charlton dropping points against Hull would also see us crowned.
Chances were at a premium in the first 40 minutes, with neither side creating a great deal.
However we took the lead on the verge on half time. A defensive move starting with Coddington saw the ball fall to Ward who surged forward. He found Pyke, who flicked a first time ball through to Anthony Spyrou who slid the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net.
Doncaster put the pressure on after the break, however we weathered it well and doubled our lead on 66 minutes. Another well worked move from the back saw Oldaker play the ball to Kamwa in the box. His initial shot was parried away, however the rebound fell to Rekeil Pyke who had a tap in to score his first goal after a 26 game drought.
Doncaster continued to put us under pressure with the title within reaching distance, as Coddington brilliantly denied N'Lundulu on multiple occasions. He'd been asking for a return to the side and was taking the opportunity with both hands.
We held on though and lifted our second successive title in front of an 800 strong away end.
Sky Bet League One
Sunderland 0-1 Chesterfield
Ward 65
Our final fixture of April could have been considered to be a dead rubber, with the title and promotion already secured. However, a win would see us beat the record we broke last year of 28 wins being the most for a Chesterfield team in one season, and would take us over 94 points, being the most attained by a Chesterfield team in one season. Our opponents were 17th place Sunderland.
We went into the break 0-0 with chances having been had for both sides. Egan-Riley saw his shot from a corner blocked off the line by James Brown in the opening 20 minutes, before Yarney was denied by a wonderful save from McLaughlin following a corner.
We had to wait until 65 minutes to take the lead. Dan Thomas did brilliantly to burst away on the left and beat O'Nien, before sending a low cross to the back post where Joe Ward tucked in at the far corner.
2 minutes later things looked even better. Oldaker swung a wide free kick towards Yarney who was hauled down by Egan-Riley for a Spireites penalty. Oldaker stepped up but sent his effort straight at McLaughlin who smothered the rebound.
There were no real chances of note for either side after that, and we held on to confirm a record breaking season.
May 2022
Sky Bet League One
Crawley Town 2-2 Chesterfield
Oldaker 28 (pen)
Spyrou 33
Our final game of the season was our only one in May, and it involved a trip to 19th place Crawley. With Crawley already safe, this one was a real dead rubber, however I was hoping for a win to sign off in style.
The game started slowly, however on 29 minutes we got a brilliant chance to go in front. In similar circumstances to Sunderland, Oldaker played a wide free kick towards Yarney, who was hauled down this time by Franco Vezzoni. With deja vu playing on my mind, Oldaker stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom right corner this time to give the Spireites the lead.
5 minutes later things got even better. Dan Thomas made a surging run down the left before cutting the ball inside to O'Connell. He played a one two with Oldaker before teeing up Anthony Spyrou who slammed the ball in the top corner for his 30th goal of the season.
That definitely heightened the party atmosphere in the away end, but Crawley reminded us not to take things easy just before the break. Vezzoni picked up the ball from a throw in and spotted Coleman off his line. The lob was on target but Coleman managed to get back quickly enough to divert the ball behind for a corner.
The second half sprang to life on 58 minutes. Matti Ballabio made a fairly innocuous looking challenge on Beryl Lubala but the referee decided to give a free kick to the hosts and a yellow card to the Spireites man. Coulson hooked the free kick to the back post where it was met by David Sesay who headed past Coleman to pull one back.
On 88 minutes Crawley got their leveller. Whilst pushing forward, James Brown lost the ball to Longelo. He ran most of the length of the pitch to cross for Lubala, who teed up Vezzoni, who in turn found the top corner of the Spireites net to reprieve himself of the penalty error.
Disappointing to lose the game so late on, but given that we have finished the season promoted as champions I can't have many complaints
End of month(s) position: 1st
Month(s) review:
Promoted as champions to play Championship football to the first time in 72 years. We've had much worst months, and also much more relaxing ones! 11 points from a possible 15 is good form. If they had more importance, the dropped points at Crawley and Fleetwood would have hurt, however the euphoria of Spyrou's last minute goal is something that will stay with me for a long time. I was awarded the Manager of the Month for April, and Bobby Kamwa's opener against Fleetwood got Goal of the Month, which is always humbling. Off the field, David Francis has expanded the budget for the backroom teams, so a number of new recruits have arrived, namely Simon Royce (GK coach), Mel Johnson (scout), Anthony Colbert (fitness coach), Steve Guppy (coach), Ross Thorpe (scout), Alan Dunne (u18 coach) and Rob Edwards (coach). Luke Coddington's game time in the last month was well earned and has appeased him, and he has signed a new contract agreeing to play as our backup keeper. Darren Oldaker has also extended his stay at the Proact until June 2025.