Southend United vs Chesterfield. Sky Bet League Two.
Roots HallAttendance4,922.
Saturday 8 January 2011 18:43, UK
Chesterfield went five points clear following a 3-2 win over Southend in a match where there were three penalties.
The visitors took the lead from the penalty spot in the 11th minute after Jack Hunt was brought down by Blues skipper Craig Easton. Danny Whitaker slotted the spot-kick low into the centre of the goal for this 10th goal of the season. And Chesterfield doubled the advantage in the 19th minute when Whitaker's clearance from a Southend free-kick released Dean Smalley and he raced upfield, beat left-back Johnny Herd and fired past a diving Glenn Morris for his second goal of the campaign on his first league start. The Shrimpers reduced the arrears in the 58th minute when Herd's long throw was cleared as far as Easton and the midfielder unleashed a curling 25-yard right-footed shot into the top right corner. But the Spireites restored their two-goal advantage four minutes later when Ryan Hall fouled Drew Talbot in the box. Referee Roger East awarded the game's second penalty and Whitaker fired the spot-kick into the bottom right corner beyond Morris' reach. The game's third penalty went Southend's way after Ian Breckin fouled Barry Corr and although the Shrimpers striker fired into the top left-hand corner in the 83rd minute, Chesterfield held on for the win.
