Leadenham 1 v Chesterfield 3

Chesterfield 3s suffered an 8-0 loss away at Leadenham against a team in form and pushing in the top half of the table.

The boys in green had a first half they'd want to forget, gifting 5 goals to Leadenham in the first half and making the game effectively out of reach by the half time whistle.

Travelling with only 11 players, Chesterfield knew it was going to be an uphill task for the 3s. And so it proved as Chesterfield's first half performance was good on workrate and industry but that just wasn't enough against a ruthless Leadenham team. The signs that it wasn't going to be their day showed from the very first minute. As the ball broke to a Leadenham striker in the circle, he swang wildly at the ball, topped it into the floor and looped the ball over keeper Balderstone, who had dived to the floor. Leadenham were clinical, and scored from every opportunity, helped in most part by the Chesterfield players who gifted them the ball. Despite the scoreline, Chesterfield did have some periods of play where they passed the ball and retained possession, but just not consistently enough to cause any problems to Leadenham's defence.

Pictured above - Colin McConnell
In the second half, Chesterfield threw caution to the wind and played a much better game. Leadenham scored 3 more times but it could have been more were it not for some super saves from keeper, Balderstone, and the defending of Nelis and McConnell. New signing, Joe Studdard, proved a constant thorn in the side of the opposition, working tirelessly from circle to circle and was awarded man of the match by his team mate for his performance. He was unlucky not to score the goal of the game with a reverse stick half-volley that just slid the wrong side of the post, with the opposition keeper beaten.

Although well beaten it wasn't all doom and gloom - in fact far from it. Stand in captain, Steve Lord, had this to say about the game "I want to thank all the players (and parents) who made the game today. Everybody's attitude and effort was superb. We could easily have given up, but we kept going all the way through and I thought we deserved a goal at least for the workrate".

Pictured above - stand in captain for the day, Steve Lord

Talking about the opposition "we knew it was going to be tough, as they are always a good team. Despite the scoreline, they deserve credit for the way they played and the respect they gave their opposition. It made losing, easier to take too that we were treated to the best post match teas so far this season. On top of that I'd also like to thank their umpires, who were excellent and probably the best we've had in the league".

The 3s have a week off from the league, with the February half term break and will return to action at St Mary's on Saturday 24th Feb against Sheffield University Bankers 6s.

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