Venue: Boundary Park
Conditions: Cold, Cold and Very Cold.
Scoresheet: Adam Smith (Chesterfield) 19mins
Roy Mac said: "It was nice to progress, I thought we had a good first 45 minutes. Adam Smith scored a magnificent goal he cut inside and the ball screamed into the net.We're through to the Northern Area Quarter Finals, But we are aware of the vitality of the League. We are well supported tonight and the support that was there drowned out the home support with there singing and chanting"
Latics Manager ex-Owl John Sheridan stated " Yes, I'm disappointed I wanted to do well and win in the competition. We weren't at the races first half and were very sloppy all round".
Hot Air: Eventually we win a 1-0 away from home and with the practical reserve side as well, we made six changes from the side that played at the weekend. Out went Hazell, Hall, Niven, Allott, Hurst & Folan & in came Kovacs, Wiggins-Thomas, Davies, Standing, Smith and The Chief. We started really well using the flanks with Smith and Larkin both getting good positions wide, Smith in particualar and it was no surprise when Smith cut in and cracked a beauty from outside the box off the post. Smith then proceeded to jump over the advertising hordings and point his finger at the 108 Spireites in the crowd before being ushered away by the stewards and he even escaped a booking. We continued in the first half to create pressure without many chances although a Kovacs header from a corner narrowly went wide.
Second Half and it was a determined Latics side that came forward and pushed on down the wings as O'Hare was getting run ragged by Liddell but we held firm and O'Hare proved he was on form by blocking a shot from the aformentioned Liddell when it was easier to score. Score 0-1
Crowd: Despite the Clubs issuing a statement in the positive to try to attract more people to these games only a fraction over 2000 turned up even with reduced ticket prices and free for kids with a paying adult. What quite clearly happened was that the Dads were in the Main Stand and the Oldham Children were in the section next to the Spireites Tifosi, to be fair they made some noise against the Oldham Board (wanting there home end back??) and some anti-Spireite songs, but our supporters remained quiet in this practical friendly. Incidentally I'm not one to have a pop at our manager but at no stage did the Spireite Supporters outshout the Home ones, I think you need your ears and eyesight checked there Roy. Anyway good win for the reserves roll on Mansfield.
