Chesterfield stun Hartlepool with three-goal comeback

Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2023 by PA

Paul Cook watched his Chesterfield team fight back from two down to shock previous leaders Hartlepool by a 3-2 score after Tom Naylor’s stoppage-time winner.

Hartlepool had set the pace in the Vanarama National League after five matches and established a two-goal advantage after only six minutes on Bank Holiday Monday, but the hosts stormed back to a memorable victory.

In-form Emmanuel Dieseruvwe gave Pools the perfect start by firing in from 25 yards after only two minutes for his fifth goal of the season.

Hartlepool doubled their advantage in the sixth minute when Joe Grey crossed in for Anthony Mancini, who found the bottom corner.

The entertaining start to the contest in Derbyshire continued when Ryan Colclough headed home Liam Mandeville’s cross after quarter of an hour.

It remained 2-1 to the visitors at half-time, but Cook’s Chesterfield levelled straight after the break when Jamie Grimes nodded in after Naylor’s effort hit the crossbar.

While Colclough had the ball in the net with 20 minutes left, it was ruled out for offside but the home team would not be denied with Naylor’s low strike going under Joel Dixon in the 94th minute to earn Chesterfield all three points.