Fleetwood Town 1-1 Chesterfield

Jon Parkin celebrates his equaliser for Fleetwood against Chesterfield

Substitute Jon Parkin scored with two minutes remaining to earn a point for second-placed Fleetwood Town against League Two leaders Chesterfield.

Jeff Hughes flicked on a cross into the path of Parkin, who fired in past goalkeeper Tommy Lee from eight yards.

A header from Liam Cooper from a Ritchie Humphreys corner looked like being enough for a Spireites win.

Hughes blazed a second-half penalty over the bar before veteran striker Parkin struck in the dying moments.

Manchester United manager David Moyes was among the spectators at Highbury on Saturday

Two successive league defeats for Chesterfield, including a having been 3-0 in front seven days previously, had resulted in their lead at the summit being reduced to a single point.

Paul Cook's team controlled the game at Highbury for long periods and they forced home goalkeeper Scott Davies into a series of fine saves before Parkin's equaliser.

Veteran Humphreys came closest to a goal for the visitors towards the end of a scoreless first period, his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Cresswell.

Tendayi Darikwa and Eoin Doyle were also denied by Davies either side of the interval.

Cod Army midfielder Antoni Sarcevic, League Two's player of the month in September, looked the most likely to create something for the home side after defender Cooper had netted his first goal for Chesterfield following his summer move from Hull.

Sarcevic fired over from the edge of the box and was then fouled by Ian Evatt for the spot-kick, which was wasted by Hughes.

Fleetwood appeared to be heading for a third defeat in six home league outings before Parkin snatched a draw for Graham Alexander's side.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I would say I'm content with a point. We got a goal that we deserved and it's a pity it didn't come earlier in the second half to give us a bit longer to maybe go on and get a winner.

"It's the top two in the league at this moment and neither wants to get beaten by the other one. Sometimes it takes a goal to open up a game.

"We know we come strong in the second half and I think that showed in the game. All the fans can see we did everything to win."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Fleetwood

Formation 4-5-1

1Davies
14Hogan
3Howell
11HughesBooked at 36mins
6Pond
16CresswellBooked at 19mins
24CrowtherSubstituted forParkinat 80'minutes
4MurdochSubstituted forBallat 68'minutes
10MattBooked at 82mins
18SarcevicSubstituted forBlairat 85'minutes
12Brown

Substitutes

5Roberts
8Schumacher
9Parkin
15McLaughlin
17Blair
23Ball
33Lucas

Chesterfield

Formation 4-4-2

1LeeBooked at 65mins
4Hird
15HumphreysSubstituted forMcSheffreyat 72'minutes
12Ryan
23EvattBooked at 70mins
6CooperBooked at 16mins
25TalbotSubstituted forO'Sheaat 73'minutes
5Morsy
17Doyle
24PorterSubstituted forTogwellat 77'minutes
7Darikwa

Substitutes

2Banks
8Togwell
10O'Shea
16Devitt
20Chapman
27Edwards
28McSheffrey

Referee:: Robert Lewis
Attendance:: 4,521

Match Stats

Home TeamFleetwoodAway TeamChesterfield

Possession: Home47%; Away53%

Shots: Home17; Away18

Shots on Target: Home6; Away7

Corners: Home4; Away12

Fouls: Home14; Away15

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Fleetwood Town 1, Chesterfield 1.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fleetwood Town 1, Chesterfield 1.

90'+6'
Post update
Attempt saved. Ian Evatt (Chesterfield) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
90'+5'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jay O'Shea (Chesterfield) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90'+4'
Post update
Jay O'Shea (Chesterfield) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by Junior Brown (Fleetwood Town).
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt missed. Jeff Hughes (Fleetwood Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Eoin Doyle (Chesterfield).
90'+1'
Post update
Nathan Pond (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'
Goal!
Goal! Fleetwood Town 1, Chesterfield 1. Jon Parkin (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jeff Hughes.
88'
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamille Matt (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box is too high.
87'
Post update
Foul by Sam Togwell (Chesterfield).
87'
Post update
David Ball (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Sam Hird.
85'
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Matty Blair replaces Antoni Sarcevic.
82'
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Gary McSheffrey.
82'
Post update
Foul by Eoin Doyle (Chesterfield).
82'
Post update
Ryan Cresswell (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82'
Booking
Jamille Matt (Fleetwood Town) is shown the yellow card.
82'
Post update
Sam Hird (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Accessibility links