After returning to the Spartans lineup keeper Conor Grant put on an impressive show against a very direct Chorley side, only to be beaten by a twenty yard effort from the home side’s midfielder Dale Whitham. Grant was replaced by former Bedlington Terriers keeper Craig Pickering during the midweek Doodson Sports Cup win at Stocksbridge Park Steels but maintained his record of playing in every minute of every Spartans league game at Victory Park and felt that was nothing he could do about Whitham’s strike. He said “It’s an absolute wonder goal isn’t it and that’s all that separated the sides. Sometimes you look at yourself when goals go in against you but I think there could have been two of me in there and probably still wouldn’t have kept it out.”
Grant feels that there could be no complaints from the Magpies if Spartans had taken the point many felt they deserved from Victory Park and was delighted with the commitment shown by his side but did feel the extra time win over Steels had an impact during the second half. He said “We put in a good performance and I don’t think they could have complained had we taken a poinst but it’s fair to say Tuesday took it out of us and you could see that in the second half. With extra time and the long journey from South Yorkshire it was tough going but we kept at it today.”
It was a game that could be best described as scrappy as both sides failed to find much rhythm and create many real chances but Grant feels that his side showed the qualities and team spirit that is being formed in the Spartans dressing room. He said “It was one of those games that come about every now and then. We are away from home and the initiative is on them to come out and attack us. We had to battle away and we were up against it during the second period but everyone has kept at it and stuck in for the good of the side, that’s something that we have here now and the spirit we have will help us progress in time.”