STUBBORN SPIREITES BLUNT U’S
COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal was left wondering what might have been as his promotionchasing side could only claim a point at struggling Chesterfield.
The U’s have dropped to eighth in League Two after playing out a goalless draw at the Proact Stadium against a battling Spireites team, who have moved out of the bottom two with the point.
McGreal said: “Am I disappointed? I would say so, because we got in some fantastic areas but we were wasteful in the final third.
“We lacked a bit of a cutting edge – we’ve had two away games on the bounce and a bit of heavy travelling on Friday.
“No excuses because we still had opportunities with the likes of Sam (Szmodics) and Drey (Wright) and haven’t picked people out.
“But it wasn’t to be and it’s a clean sheet away from home and it keeps the form going.
“After two tough away fixtures, we’ve come away with four points.”
Chesterfield ended a run of three straight defeats with the draw, to the satisfaction of assistant manager Nicky Eaden.
He said: “It was a good performance, which I think was important after three defeats.
“We’d have loved to have got a win but we’ve kept a clean sheet and to take a point out of the game kind of stops the rot a little bit and gives us something to build on.
“We’re a little bit stretched defensively but we’re not using that as any kind of excuse.
“I thought the whole back four were excellent and it gives you that base to build on and let the others in front of them to go and try and win the game for you.”
Colchester looked lively early on and Spireites keeper Jake Eastwood pushed away Sammie Szmodics' first-time effort from ten yards.
But the hosts warmed to the task after that and goalkeeper Sam Walker made a good save with his legs to deny Joe Rowley at his near post, after Andy Kellett had opened up the U’s defence.
Walker pushed away Rowley’s tame header from two yards when he had looked certain to score on the half hour, after Kane Vincent-Young had sliced Kristian Dennis’ cross high into the air in his own box.
The lively Rowley went close again before the break while early in the second half, Jerome Binnom-Williams' 20-yard strike flashed inches wide of the post.
The impressive Frankie Kent then made a fine last-ditch challenge to deny Binnom-Williams but Colchester looked dangerous on the break, with keeper Eastwood parrying Drey Wright’s close-range effort. Szmodics went close again for Colchester late on but neither side could break the deadlock, as the points were shared.