The Chronicle
Crewe Alex took a massive three points from their basement battle at Chesterfield on Boxing Day.
It was a six-pointer at the Proact Stadium with both sides in trouble near the foot of the table, but the Railwaymen responded superbly to their defeat at the weekend to bag their third away with of the season.
Chris Porter’s 10th of the season and Charlie Kirk’s first career goal in his 49th career appearance earned the success which has given Crewe more breathing space from the drop zone.
They stay 20th in League Two but are now six points clear of Chesterfield in second bottom.
It was a massive game for two clubs embroiled in the early stages of a relegation dogfight.
Crewe went into it with just two away wins all season, and five in 22 league games in 2017.
However, they could take some confidence from the fact they hammered the Spirites 5-1 at Gresty Road in September.
Sheffield Star
An injury ravaged Chesterfield side fell to their third defeat on the trot after another dreadful display on Boxing Day....
This time the happy beneficiaries were Crewe Alexandra, who moved six points clear of the Spireites with a 2-0 victory.
Jack Lester was forced to field a makeshift backline with Ian Evatt out injured, left-back Jerome Binnom-Williams standing in alongside Sam Hird – himself carrying a knock – and Scott Wiseman in a back three.
Defensively Town looked very shaky in a first half that saw them concede twice. The first came on just seven minutes, exactly the start Town didn’t need, Chris Porter breaking the offside trap and playing the ball across the area, Binnom-Williams putting it past his own keeper.
Lester’s men looked for an immediate response but Joe Rowley’s cross-cum-shot was saved by Ben Garratt. Things then went from bad to worse.
A sliderule pass put Charlie Kirk in on the left hand side and he finished past emergency loan keeper Jake Eastwood, Binnom-Williams’ despairing slide unable to keep the ball out.
Chesterfield FC Official Website
Chesterfield slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Crewe Alexandra with both goals coming in the first half.
It was an improved second-half performance from the Spireites but they were unable to find a way back into the game.