SHWAN HAS A BIG HAND IN IT
STOPPER Shwan Jalal’s superb second-half performance helped Chesterfield to a point in a tense relegation tussle with Fylde.
The Spireites took the lead through Jonathan Smith shortly after the half-hour mark.
But a second-half rally from the visitors saw them level proceedings through Nick Haughton.
In a game both sides really needed to win in their bid to beat the National League drop, Jalal put in an inspired performance.
A shared point leaves Chesterfield and Fylde still firmly in the relegation zone, with the sides two and five points away from safety respectively, with Fylde winless in the league in their last eight games.
Jalal even had a hand in the Spireites’ opener. Fylde’s Jordan Williams had been sent through one-on-one, but the keeper made an excellent save and played the ball forward.
The counter attack swoooped up field, where Smith converted his third goal in as many games.
Chesterfield caretaker boss John Pemberton is pleased with the form of his goalkeeper, but hopes his side don’t become reliant on it.
Pemberton said: “He’s been fantastic ever since I’ve come in, but we cannot keep relying on him to keep us in games.
“Of the three games that I’ve had so far, I knew that Fylde would be the toughest. They’ve got quality players throughout so you know they are going to have moments through the game where they are going to stretch us.”
After a difficult first half, Fylde came out of the blocks flying, with Williams denied by Jalal three times throughout the game.
He came closest with a backheel inside the six-yard box that Jalal somehow held onto to keep his side ahead.
But the visitors’ second half dominance eventually paid off through former Salford City attacker Haughton.
Fylde goalkeeper Sam Hornby played a long ball forward which found the midfielder in the box and he volleyed home to finally beat Jalal.
Coasters boss Jim Bentley praised his former team-mate Jalal for his performance, but felt his side should have come away with three points which would have helped their battle to beat the drop.
Bentley said: “Jalal has done well, but I feel that we defended well and we had the better chances in the game and we’ve really got to start taking these chances.
“I don’t think that we deserved to be behind going into half-time to be honest, but we came out in the second half and we were well on top.
“I’m pleased with the character and the endeavour of the players to come back from 1-0 down. They’ve given it their all and they’ve got their just rewards in the end.”