Captain takes positives from opening day defeat for Chesterfield Hockey Club

After two consecutive promotions, They began their league campaign in Midlands 1 with a 2-1 defeat at home to North Staffs HC side.

Skipper Jon Moores said: “Although we are very disappointed to not have walked away with at least a point, it's important to remember we're in this league off the back of two promotions.

"To lose by only one goal to a very experienced Midlands 1 team, we can't be too hard on ourselves.”

It was a summer of ins and outs for the Derbyshire side with Joe Morton, Tom Bacon and Joe Welsh all leaving for university with Australians Harvey Bessell and Aiden Van Staden returning home.

Veterans Christian Battye and Patrick Evans also retired after years of service. Chesterfield recruited well over the summer however with the arrivals of goalkeeper Joel Clayton (Macclesfield HC), James Tanton (Derby), Matt Parker (Belper), Cameron Geimer (Knutsford), Joe Giltrow and Oli Evans (unattached).

Chesterfield started the game in their usual manner with enormous pressure applied to the away side. This resulted in forwards Dan Molloy, Jack Hartley and new signing Oli Evans creating a plethora of chances for the home side to snatch the lead.

The home side were finally rewarded for their hard work when Jack Hartley dispatched a well worked penalty corner into the opposition goal giving Chesterfield a deserved lead.

North Staffordshire responded well with Chesterfield being forced to defend. Man of the match Matt Drohan (GK) was called into action ensuring Chesterfield preserved their 1-0 lead going into half time.

The away side began the second half on the front foot with Chesterfield having to absorb pressure. Seasoned defenders Ben Curley and Josh Brocklehurst successfully stifled multiple opposition chances before the away side levelled with 20 minutess to go.

New signing Cam Geimer and promising youngster Ryan Speed dug deep in the midfield ensuring Chesterfield continued to create more opportunities to secure three points.

However it was the away side that broke the deadlock with a final goal leaving Chesterfield disappointed to have received no reward.