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Unlikely goal hero Will lifts Spireites and hammers a nail in former club’s coffin
THESE days, it’s all in an afternoon’s work for Will Evans. After his injurytime, penalty-saving heroics in securing a valuable point against Ebbsfleet United two weeks ago, the centre-back scored twice against his former club to earn Chesterfield a first away win since the opening day of the season.
The victory lifted John Sheridan’s side above their hosts and to within two points of safety, but Aldershot Town – the division’s lowest scorers – ended a disspiriting and debilitating afternoon wondering merely where their next goal will come from.
“Hopefully this is the first of many wins,” predicted Sheridan. “I think our position is a false one, when you look at the squad that we’ve got, but we need to find more consistency.
“We were a bit lucky in the first-half, but you need luck, and all credit to the players, they’ve bounced back well. They’re a good group of lads but there’s a long way to go and lots of games we need to win.”
Spireites enjoyed a degree of joy down their right in the first-half, as Lee Shaw faced auxiliary Shots left-back Regan Booty, but defences largely held sway. Jonathan
Smith’s hooked, rising volley was clutched by Will Mannion, whilst for the hosts Gerry McDonagh, Luke Wanadio and the enterprising Luke Howell all fired over the crossbar.
A competitive but rather low-key opening period was drifting to a goalless conclusion when Chesterfield forced two late corners. Evans was close to connecting with the first but timed his run perfectly to meet Curtis Weston’s second delivery and guided a header into the bottom corner. His lack of celebration couldn’t hide the importance of the moment.
“Aldershot controlled most of the first-half, but we get the goal and it gives you the belief that you can go on and win the game,” continued Sheridan. “I was really pleased with the way we controlled the game in the second-half. We should have scored more goals.”
Rather than sit back on their slender lead, Chesterfield grew in confidence and took the game to the Shots. Smith’s angled drive into the goalmouth ricocheted wide off the fit-again Alex Kiwomya, and soon fired wide having elected to shoot with his wrong foot.
Will Mannion parried Bradley Barry’s long-range effort, and Aldershot mustered a brief flurry midway through the second-half. Shwan Jalal did well to save at point-blank range from Reece Grant and parry debutant John Goddard’s swerving 20-yard drive in the space of five minutes, but soon Evans delivered the composed suckerpunch.
Mannion produced a superb save to repel Marc-Antoine Fortune’s shot, only for Evans to stroke in the rebound between two scrambling defenders. Kyel Reid nearly added a third in stoppage-time, as Jake Gallagher slid in to block his shot on the line, but the Shots had long since been exposed as a spent force.
“I thought we played extremely well in the first-half but in the second-half we didn’t get anywhere near the levels of performance we were looking for,” ran Waddock’s familiar lament, darkened by the unexpected departure of assistant boss James Rowe and the news that defender George Fowler will miss the rest of the season through injury.
“The first goal is always crucial, but it was a cruel blow after we’d played so well.
“We have some big challenges ahead. We have to get on with it and face those challenges head on. I’m hoping to bring more new faces in this week, but only time will tell.”
STAR MAN: Will Evans (Chesterfield) ATT: 2,120 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Josh Smith 6/10