Spireites off to flying start

07 August 2010 18:30
Chesterfield celebrated a 2-1 victory against Barnet at their new £13million home, but they were holding on when striker Craig Davies was sent off in the closing minutes. Dwayne Mattis and Jack Lester put Chesterfield in control, but Glenn Poole replied before Steve Kabba was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious injury after he was caught by Davies. Chesterfield started brightly, but it was Barnet who almost scored the first League goal at the b2net Stadium when Mark Byrne hit a 25-yard shot that Tommy Lee tipped away for a corner. But a defensive error gave the home side the lead in the 24th minute when Jordan Parkes failed to clear at the back post and Drew Talbot set up Mattis for a simple finish. Barnet skipper Anwar Uddin headed a free-kick wide in the 55th minute before Lester gave his team breathing space four minutes later. The experienced striker twice turned inside a defender before coolly placing a shot inside Jake Cole's right-hand post from 12 yards. Barnet responded with a 20-yard strike from Poole in the 71st minute after Kabba set him up, and Chesterfield were down to 10 men when Davies was dismissed for an 83rd-minute challenge on Kabba.

Source: PA