It's a Crooked way to the Top

[mark wilson27]

Season One 2022/23

June 27^th 2022

After Paul Cook decided to leave The Technique Stadium the Chesterfield board decided to go to the lower league of football and hired Mark Wilson a 43yr old manager. I have been signed on a one year deal worth £900 per week.

The club has a newish stadium which was built in 2010 and can hold around 10,500 fans. The media are predicting that my side will finish second in the league.

The squad is reasonably good but I will be looking at bringing in some new faces or promoting some of the younger ones.

| Inf         | Name               | Position          | Best Pos    | Age         | Nat         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Lucas Covolan      | GK                | GK          | 31          | BRA         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Ross Fitzsimons    | GK                | GK          | 28          | IRL         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Wnt         | Jamie Grimes       | D (C)             | D (C)       | 31          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Tyrone Williams    | D (RC)            | D (R)       | 27          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Joe Cook           | D (C)             | D (C)       | 22          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Wnt         | Laurence Maguire   | D (LC)            | D (L)       | 25          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Ryheem Sheckleford | D/WB (R)          | D (R)       | 25          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Wnt         | Jeff King          | D/WB (R)          | D (R)       | 26          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Kian Tansley       | D (C), DM, M (C)  | DM          | 19          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Loa         | Branden Horton     | D/WB/M (L)        | D (L)       | 21          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Bailey Clements    | D/WB (L)          | D (L)       | 21          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Mike Jones         | DM, M (C)         | M (C)       | 34          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Ollie Banks        | DM, M (C)         | M (C)       | 29          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Inj         | Manny Oyeleke      | DM, M (C)         | M (C)       | 29          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Tim Akinola        | DM, M (C)         | M (C)       | 21          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Inj         | George Cooper      | WB/M (L), AM (RL) | AM (L)      | 25          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Darren Oldaker     | M (C)             | M (C)       | 23          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Tom Whelan         | M/AM (C)          | M (C)       | 26          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Ctr         | Tiarnan O'Connor   | M/AM (C)          | M (C)       | 19          | NIR         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Liam Mandeville    | M (R), AM (RLC)   | AM (R)      | 25          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Jack Clarke        | AM (RLC)          | AM (R)      | 23          | IRL         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Armando Dobra      | AM (RLC)          | AM (L)      | 21          | ALB         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Danny Rowe         | AM (C), ST (C)    | ST (C)      | 33          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Akwasi Asante      | AM (L), ST (C)    | AM (L)      | 29          | NED         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Set         | Michael Gyasi      | AM (RL), ST (C)   | AM (L)      | 22          | GER         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| Wnt         | Jesurun Uchegbulam | AM (RL), ST (C)   | AM (R)      | 21          | NGA         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Kabongo Tshimanga  | ST (C)            | ST (C)      | 24          | ENG         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|             | Joe Quigley        | ST (C)            | ST (C)      | 25          | IRL         | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

[mark wilson27]

 

July 2022

July 2^nd:

The first friendly of the preseason sees my side facing Scottish side St Mirren and we played pretty well to beat them 2-1 with K.Tshimanga and L.Maguire both scoring, however T.Williams was given a straight red

July 5^th:

Injury news sees keeper R.Fitzsimons out for 6-8 weeks after spraining his Ankle Ligaments in training

July 9^th:

The next friendly was against AFC Telford and my side played the better football but could only walk away with a 2-2 draw with K.Tshimanga grabbing a brace but defensive errors cost us

July 12^th:

We now faced another away trip against Hereford and again we battered them 3-0 with three different players scoring as J.Quigley, M.Gyasi and A.Asante all scoring

July 13^th:

Transfer news sees me bringing in Tyree Wilson on free transfer, he is a 20yr old English winger who has just been released by Derby County

July 16^th:

Next up was a trip to my home club Matlock Town and we played well to beat them 2-0 thanks to a goal a piece from L.Mandeville and K.Tshimanga. All credit to Matlock though who played pretty damn well

July 18^th:

Injury news sees L.Covolan out for around three weeks after pulling his hamstring in training

July 19^th:

Our next friendly sees us facing an away game against Salisbury and we outplayed them from the start with D.Oldaker grabbing a goal and K.Tshimanga grabbing a brace for my side

July 28^th:

The final game of the month and preseason sees us facing Welsh side TNS and we played pretty damn well to beat them 2-1 thanks to a brace from A.Asante.

 

[mark wilson27]

August 2022:

August 1^st:

I was asked to decide who will be the club captain and vice captain. I have decided to stick with J.Grimes as Captain but I have replaced L.Maguire as Vice Captain with M.Jones taking the role

August 6^th:

Dorking (a) Vanarama National League (1/46)

Not the start of the season I wanted as Dorking played the football and on the 17^th minute Dorking grabbed the lead with a low shot from A.Rutherford which went in off the upright after some woeful defending. Five minutes later it was two nil as some more poor defending saw A.Rutherford again scoring after breaking into the area unmarked to fire under L.Chadwick. On the 34^th minute they had another chance as J.Grimes fluffed a clearance but luckily for him L.Chadwick saved well to deny them. On the stroke of half time though we pulled a goal back with our first chance as K.Tshimanga ran onto a J.Uchegbulam through-ball and slotted in under the keeper.

The second half was not any better as Dorking piled on the pressure and on the 65^th minute they came close with a thunderous effort which went just over the crossbar. Eight minutes later they had yet another chance with a curling effort which was headed over by T.Williams. With ten minutes remaining in the game we had our second chance of the game as M.Gyasi threaded the ball through the defence but K.Tshimanga fired wide of the post when it was easier to score

Dorking 2-1 Chesterfield A.Rutherford 17, 22 / K.Tshimanga 45

L.Chadwick, J.King, T.Williams, J.Grimes, L.Maguire, L.Mandeville, O.Banks (T.Williams), T.Akinola (A.Dobra), J.Uchegbulam, A.Asante (M.Gyasi), K.Tshimanga

 

[mark wilson27]

August 12^th:

Injury news sees D.Oldaker out for around 11 days after damaging his heel during training

August 13^th:

Aldershot (h) (2/46)

After the first game loss it was important to get back with a win and we didn't get off to a good start as Aldershot piled on the early pressure and on the 12^th minute they came close but J.Grimes cleared off the line. Ten minutes later we came close to losing the first goal but J.Grimes was on hand again to block an effort. Aldershot were all over us and on the 34^th minute Aldershot came close yet again with low shot which was blocked by L.Chadwick. However with a minute remaining in the half we opened the scoring as K.Tshimanga hit a speculative effort from outside the area which beat the keeper to his near post much to the delight of the Technique crowd.

The second half was all my side as we piled on the pressure and on the 54^th minute we had another chance to score with M.Gyasi rattling the crossbar from close range when it was easier to score. Ten minutes later we had another chance as K.Tshimanga jinked into the area with the ball but his final effort went wide of the post. On the 70^th minute we had another chance to score as O.Banks was brought down in the area for a penalty, K.Tshimanga stepped up and fired the penalty high into the back of the net. With nine minutes remaining in the game we had our final chance with K.Tshimanga missing the chance of a hat-trick after breaking through the defence but the Aldershot keeper saved well to deny him.

Chesterfield 2-0 Aldershot K.Tshimanga 44, 70 pen

L.Chadwick, J.King, T.Williams, J.Grimes, L.Maguire, L.Mandeville (T.Williams), O.Banks, T.Akinola, J.Uchegbulam, A.Asante (M.Gyasi), K.Tshimanga

 

[mark wilson27]

August 16^th:

Wrexham (h) (3/46)

Ten minutes into the game Wrexham had the first chance to score with a long range effort which had L.Chadwick at full stretch to save. On the 24^th minute we had our first chance as L.Mandeville curled the ball into the area but K.Tshimanga headed wide of the post. Soon after Wrexham came close with a well worked team move which was thwarted by a great challenge by J.Grimes. With a minute remaining in the half we grabbed the lead as K.Tshimanga ran into the area unmarked and fired in a low cross from A.Asante.

The second half was all my side as we piled on the pressure and on the 53^rd minute the Wrexham keeper saved brilliantly from O.Banks thunderous effort. Ten minutes later T.Akinola stung the fingers of the Wrexham keeper after he ran onto a great pass by J.King. On the 67^th minute we finally got goal number two as J.Grimes headed in a J.Uchegbulam corner after A.Asante's initial effort was tipped round the post. With nine minutes remaining in the game we had our final effort with T.Akinola heading just over from a J.Uchegbulam cross.

Chesterfield 2-0 Wrexham K.Tshimanga 44, J.Grimes 67

L.Chadwick, J.King, T.Williams, J.Grimes, B.Clements, L.Mandeville, O.Banks, T.Akinola, J.Uchegbulam, A.Asante, K.Tshimanga

 

[mark wilson27]

August 20^th:

Notts Co (a) (4/46)

County were by far the better side and on the 17^th minute they were awarded a penalty after J.Grimes was adjudged to have handled in the area, J.O'Brien stepped up and sent L.Chadwick the wrong way to open the scoring. Soon after they had another chance with a thunderous effort which stung the fingers of L.Chadwick. On the 34^th minute though some poor defending cost us as C.Scott intercepted a dire clearance to fired under L.Chadwick. With four minutes remaining in the half we pulled an undeserved goal back as K.Tshimanga rose above the defence to head home a J.Uchegbulam cross.

The second half was nine minutes old when County ran into the area with ease and O.Windsor dinked the ball over the onrushing L.Chadwick. On the 69^th minute they had yet another chance to score with a great team move which was thwarted by a last ditch challenge from J.King. Eight minutes later we had our only chance of the half as A.Dobra came close with a curling effort which the County saved well. However deep into injury time County made it 4-1 with M.Langstaff tapping in after some more woeful defending by my side. Not a great day at the office

Notts Co 4-1 Chesterfield J.O'Brien 17 pen, C.Scott 34, O.Windsor 54, M.Langstaff 90+2 / K.Tshimanga 41

L.Chadwick, J.King, T.Williams, J.Grimes, B.Clements, L.Mandeville (A.Dobra), O.Banks, T.Akinola, J.Uchegbulam, A.Asante, K.Tshimanga (M.Gyasi)

 

[mark wilson27]

August 21^st:

Injury news sees B.Clements out for around 5-6 weeks after twisting his ankle in training

August 26^th:

International news sees A.Dobra called up to the Albania Under 21's squad for the matches against Serbia and Iceland on September 1^st and 5th

August 27^th:

Barnet (h) (5/46)

A great start to the game saw us taking the lead on the 7^th minute as K.Tshimanga ran through the defence and fired under the keeper. Twelve minutes later we came close to grabbing another goal with A.Asante threaded the ball to the feet of K.Tshimanga who lashed the ball wide of the post. On the 36^th minute Barnet had their first chance of the game as they broke through the defence but the final effort was as poor as my sides defending.

The second half was ten minutes old when Barnet had their next chance with a long range effort which stung the fingers of L.Covolan. On the 64^th minute though Barnet grabbed the equaliser as D.Powell headed in from a corner after L.Covolan flapped at a ball. Seven minutes later we retook the lead as K.Tshimanga barged through the defence and rounded the keeper to slide the ball into the empty net. We started to control the game and on the 87^th minute K.Tshimanga had the chance to complete his hat-trick but his final effort went just wide of the post.

Chesterfield 2-2 Barnet K.Tshimanga 7, 71 / D.Powell 64, N.Kabamba 90+2

L.Covolan, R.Sheckleford (T.Williams), J.Cook, J.Grimes, L.Maguire, A.Dobra, O.Banks, T.Akinola, G.Cooper, A.Asante (J.Quigley), K.Tshimanga

[mark wilson27]

August 29^th:

Altrincham (a) (6/46)

Ten minutes into the game my side had their first chance with a curling effort from A.Asante which clipped the outside of the upright. Eight minutes later we had another chance as B.Horton threaded the ball to the feet of D.Oldaker who lashed it just wide of the post. On the 33^rd minute we came close to opening the scoring as T.Wilson curled the ball into the area but A.Asante headed straight into the keepers arms. With three minutes remaining in the half we finally broke the deadlock as K.Tshimanga ran into the area unmarked and fired a D.Oldaker cross past the keeper.

The second half was virtually all my side and on the 55^th minute we grabbed goal number two as J.Quigley played a great one two with K.Tshimanga and fired in under the keeper. Straight from kick off we grabbed another goal as L.Mandeville intercepted a loose ball and rounded the keeper to slide the ball into the empty net. After the goal we relaxed alittle and let Altrincham back into it and on the 70^th minute they pulled a goal back as J.Lunstram fired in from the penalty spot after T.Williams was adjudged to have fouled in the area

Altrincham 1-3 Chesterfield J.Lunstram 70 pen / K.Tshimanga 42, J.Quigley 55, L.Mandeville 56

L.Covolan, J.King (R.Sheckleford), T.Williams, L.Maguire, B.Horton, L.Mandeville, T.Whelan, D.Oldaker, T.Wilson, A.Asante (J.Quigley), K.Tshimanga

The end of the first month of the season sees us sitting in 6^th spot some 4pts behind top of the table Solihull Moors

 

[mark wilson27]

September 2022:

September 1^st:

The start of the month sees K.Tshimanga winning the Player of the Month after scoring eight goals in six games and earning an average rating of 7.62

International news sees A.Dobra playing the full match for Albania U21's against Serbia, he played Ok earning a rating of 6.3 as his side lost 1-0

September 3^rd:

Oldham (a) (7/46)

A poor start to the game saw us going a goal down on the 12^th minute as H.Hope jinked through the defence to fire under R.Fitzsimons. Ten minutes later we had our first chance of the game with thunderous effort from A.Asante which stung the fingers of the Oldham keeper. On the 31^st minute we grabbed the equaliser as O.Banks ran onto a T.Akinola through-ball and rounded the keeper to slot into the empty net. Just before the break we had our next chance to score as G.Cooper rose above the defence and headed a B.Horton cross just over the crossbar,

The second half was all us as my half time team talk seemed to be have listened too. On the 58^th minute we came close to taking the lead as L.Mandeville curled a shot towards the top corner but the Oldham keeper managed to get a finger to it. On the 70^th minute we finally took the lead we deserved as T.Akinola threaded the ball to the feet of K.Tshimanga who lashed it with ease past the keeper. Four minutes later I was forced into a change as J.Quigley came on for the injured G.Cooper. With three minutes remaining in the game we had the final chance as J.Quigley somehow missed from close range after beating the defence to a loose ball. A good three points but we really should've scored more than the two goals we did

Oldham 1-2 Chesterfield H.Hope 12 / O.Banks 31, K.Tshimanga 70

R.Fitzsimons, J.King (R.Sheckleford), J.Cook, J.Grimes, B.Horton, L.Mandeville, O.Banks, T.Akinola, G.Cooper (inj 74 – J.Quigley), A.Asante (D.Oldaker), K.Tshimanga

Injury news sees G.Cooper out for around 5-6 weeks after spraining his ankle ligaments in the game

 

[mark wilson27]

September 5^th:

International news sees A.Dobra playing the full match for Albania Under 21's against Iceland in his sides 4-3 loss. He played well getting an assist and earning a rating of 7.2

September 10^th:

Gateshead (h) (8/46)

The first half was all my side as we controlled the play. It did however take us till 29^th minute for the first effort as A.Asante crossed into the area but J.Quigley sent the header high over the keeper and into the crowd. Ten minutes later we had the next chance as L.Mandeville sprinted in from the wing and fired an effort towards goal but the keeper managed to get a fingertip onto it and divert it round the goal.

The second half was ten minutes old when we finally got the opener we deserved as J.Quigley beat the offside trap and fired hard into the back of the net. On the 67^th minute we had our next chance was as B.Horton lumped the ball forward but J.Quigley volleyed the ball straight into the keeper. Eight minutes later it was D.Oldaker's chance to score as he tried his luck from twenty yards but the Gateshead keeper was on hand to block the effort. With two minutes remaining in the game we managed to get the killer goal as A.Asante ran into the area unmarked to head a L.Mandeville cross past the keeper.

Chesterfield 2-0 Gateshead J.Quigley 55, A.Asante 88

R.Fitzsimons, J.King, J.Cook, J.Grimes, B.Horton, L.Mandeville, O.Banks, J.Uchegbulam, T.Wilson (D.Oldaker), A.Asante, J.Quigley

[mark wilson27]

September 13^th:

Southend (h) (9/46)

We were the better side from the start and on the 20^th minute we grabbed the lead with J.Quigley curling the ball in from outside the area to give the keeper no chance of saving. Soon after we had another chance to score with a low shot from A.Asante which clipped the wrong side of the post. On the 38^th minute the Southend keeper saved the day with a brilliant block from J.Quigley. We were all over the opposition and just before the break T.Wilson had his first chance from ten yards but his effort went wide of the post.

The second half was pretty much all my side but just before the hour a lapse in concentration cost us as J.Taylor ran through the defence onto a sloppy ball and fired under R.Fitzsimons. My players reacted well as on the 68^th minute substitute A.Dobra headed in a J.Uchegbulam cross. Four minutes later A.Dobra grabbed his second goal with a low shot from the edge of the area after beating the defence to a loose ball. On the 76^th minute the final goal of the game was scored as A.Dobra completed an eight minute hat-trick after running onto a D.Oldaker through-ball.

Chesterfield 4-1 Southend J.Quigley 20, A.Dobra 68, 72, 76 / J.Taylor 59

R.Fitzsimons, J.King, J.Cook, J.Grimes, B.Horton, L.Mandeville, O.Banks (D.Oldaker), J.Uchegbulam, T.Wilson, A.Asante (K.Tshimanga), J.Quigley (A.Dobra)