TO SKI OR NOT TO SKI

It was the demise of Chelsea, Southampton and Manchester City that has taken the attention of FA Cup enthusiasts away from Fulham holding Sunderland, Bolton at Liverpool, Blackburn thumping Swansea, and lowly Leicester beaten Spurs at WHL. Then, of course, Cambridge United made headline news after Friday's amazing performance against the millionaires of Manchester. We decided to go to the Ipro Stadium, Derby. My colleague, Dave, a Lincoln City fan but living near Derby had arranged to take an ageing Chesterfield born ex amateur footballer to watch the Cup game between the Rams and Spireites. The ski slopes of roaring exchange rate Switzerland was too much for our Duckmanton lad and he missed all the fun. I'm easily pleased.

First of all, the pedestrian bridge over the A52 is a structural marvel, carrying the weight of thousands of spectators who prefer to park their cars in local side streets rather than in the retail park surrounding the ground. 

Secondly, the statue of Clough and Taylor embracing has to be seen and the food stalls are many and varied. 

Thirdly, the view from anywhere in the stadium is excellent. 

We didn't have an overpriced beer at the ground; Dave had already had one at the pub and I am on antibiotics. Money saved! The Duckmanton boy would have had an O2, if he had been there.

Derby made hard work of the tie allowing Chesterfield to play some excellent football, especially in the first half. Statistics show that Derby were in control, with Will Hughes full of skills and tricks, but Chesterfield could have scored three. The efforts of Darren Bent were promising and he really should have tucked away a hat trick, but as it was, he got on the end of a corner, nodded on by Buxton, that wasn't marked well on the back post and Bent was a fox in the box.

The second half had similar statistics to the first and the away fans were full of hope, but Hughes, always dangerous robbed the Chesterfield midfield and calmly but the ball into the net to make it 2-0. As Dave noted, Chesterfield probably would not struggle up a division, though Derby have too many huff and puffers to make an inroad into the PL, though Hughes deserves the elevation.

The first time these two clubs came together in the league or cup, was on January 12th 1907. Curious since Derby is an original FL club and Chesterfield claim to be founded in 1866. They have met only 15 times, with 8 wins to the Rams, and two draws. Four of these matches have been in the FA Cup.