A last-gasp Altrincham equaliser denied Chesterfield the win at the Technique Stadium

Embed from Getty Images

It was an almighty collapse for Chesterfield as two goals in 10 minutes, including a 95th-minute equaliser, ensured Altrincham left Derbyshire with a well-deserved point.

AJ Leitch-Smith snatched a draw for the Robins with the last kick of the game in controversial fashion. His effort hit the back of the net in the 95th minute when there was only meant to be four additional minutes played.

Nonetheless, as the visitors pushed on for a goal in the dying embers, Toby Mullarkey’s effort was parried straight into the path of Leitch-Smith who fired home with the aid of a deflection to complete a stunning comeback.

Matty Kosylo, arguably the game’s most influential player over the course of the 90 minutes, got his side right back in the affair with a drilled effort from 20 yards which found the bottom corner six minutes from time.

The Spireites took an early lead after just 11 minutes through Liam Mandeville. He lobbed the ball over Altrincham goalkeeper Tony Thompson to find the back of the net from close range.

James Rowe’s side doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Lethal goalscorer Kabongo Tshimanga pounced on Jamie Grimes’ header to send the ball past a helpless Thompson.

The striker increased his impressive goal tally to a mighty 18 for the season as he continues to repay every penny of the hefty fee Chesterfield paid last summer to secure his signature and fend off the interest of Football League clubs.

Despite the disappointing result, Chesterfield manager James Rowe told the media post-game how ‘proud’ he was of his players to walk away with a point.

“I was proud because we tried so hard, we tried the hardest we possibly could. They [Altrincham] continued to knock at the door and they have got the rewards at the end with a bit of fortune, but the game should be finished before the goal has gone in.

“I am so disappointed with their first one because you get it right in one box and you have got to make sure you get it right in the other box. We didn’t, we switched off. The culprit in the changing room has held his hand up as soon as we went in there because we are a tight group.”

Rowe’s men missed an opportunity to further extend their lead at the top of the National League as second-placed Boreham Wood’s encounter with fellow play-off contenders Notts County ended in a 1-1 draw.

However, the hosts are now 10 games unbeaten in all competitions after avoiding defeat. A spectacular achievement in light of the recent squad issues for James Rowe with every player fighting for the team.

It was a classic Tuesday night fixture under the lights at the Technique Stadium, not the prettiest of affairs with plenty of misplaced passes and enough crunching tackles to make the crowd flinch at least twice.

The Spireites’ fixture against Maidenhead United this weekend has been called off due to a COVID outbreak in the Magpies’ camp with a new date for the game announced in the near future.

Altrincham, who sit 11th in the league table after Tuesday’s result, host relegation-threatened Southend United on Saturday with the Robins able to move closer to the play-off spots with a victory pending other results go in their favour.