Spireites match report: Chesterfield 1 Wolves 2 (FT)

Chesterfield’s unbeaten home record through pre-season came to an end at the hands of Paul Cook’s former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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A tidy run and finish from Leigh Griffiths was the difference between the two sides in an entertaining game at the Proact Stadium.

Drew Talbot’s ferocious finish cancelled out Dave Edwards’ opener during an end to end first 45 minutes.

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Cook, who played more than 200 games for the West Midlands outfit, snapped up defender Ryan Edwards on a month’s loan from Blackburn Rovers prior to kick off.

While there was also room for trialist Hamza Bencherif and Nottingham Forest midfielder David Morgan, who the club is taking a look at, on the bench.

Griffiths, who had a successful loan spell with Hibernian last season, and Bakary Sako started in a strong Wolves line up.

The League One side, in particular Griffiths, found space with ease in the final third early on and took the lead as Chesterfield failed to clear a corner.

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Gary Roberts brought the ball down neatly under pressure only for Tongo Doumbia to take the ball off his toe and drive a low cross for Edwards to steer into the bottom corner of the net.

The Spireites responded and Jimmy Ryan forced Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme into a strong save diving low to his right in an end to end opening 20 minutes.

Tommy Lee had to be on his toes to dive bravely at the feet of Jake Cassidy to prevent the visitors from doubling their lead before Roberts missed a glorious chance to level the scores with a free header from Ritchie Humphreys’ cross.

The home side were beginning to find their feet and, with the finest move of the first half, the hosts equalised when Roberts shifted the ball out wide for Talbot to cut in from the right and curl the ball around Ikeme into the bottom corner of the net.

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Matty Brown almost put the Spireites ahead just before the interval when he connected with Jay O’Shea’s inviting corner at the back post only to find the side netting.

Chesterfield remained unchanged at the break and Roberts tried his luck with a speculative effort from half way that Ikeme was equal to.

A raft of changes from both sides saw the introduction of Edwards and Nathan Smith at the back for the hosts.

It was Wolves though who went ahead just after the hour when Lee Evans’ defence-splitting pass released Griffiths, who took the ball in his stride and slotted the ball under Lee.

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Zele Ismail came close to stretching the visitors’ lead when he hit the bar with a free header moments later.

Substitute Marc Richards tested Ikeme with a free kick before McAlinden thought he had wrapped the game up for Wolves only for the linesman’s flag to cut his celebrations short.

Chesterfield: Lee (Chapman 81); Talbot Hird 72), Brown (Edwards 55), Cooper (Broadhead), Humphreys (Smith 55); Morsy (Bencherif 59), Togwell (Morgan 72); O’Shea (Darikwa 55), Ryan (Richards 55), Roberts (Devitt 72), Doyle (Gnanduillet 55). All subs used.

Wolves: Ikeme; Elokobi, Batth, Stearman, Rickets; Edwards (Price 84), Davis (Foley 55), Doumbia (Sigurdarson 45), Cassidy (Evans 45), Griffiths (McAlinden 79), Sako (Ismail 55)

Subs: Hennessey, Doherty

Goals: Talbot 29; Edwards 7, Griffiths 65

Referee: Mr Michael Naylor.

Attendance: 2,469

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