Spireites boss explains gift goal

Lester (right) confronts referee Andy Woolmer after his controversial goal

Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson has explained why he gifted Droylsden an equaliser in their controversial FA Cup second round tie, which ended 2-2.

The Spireites went 2-1 up when Jack Lester lobbed the keeper from a throw-in after Droylsden put the ball out - but Steve Halford was allowed to level.

"There is nothing in the rules stopping Jack from doing that but it is against the spirit of the game," Richardson

"It is not right. That's why I told the players to let Droylsden score."

The match was held up after Lester scored with 12 minutes to go as Droylsden protested furiously.

Chesterfield then allowed Halford to walk unchallenged from the halfway line and tap the ball into the net to equalise.

Richardson added: "I made the decision because the referee and linesman were stuck to know what to do and there was a potential for a riot to ensue.

"There was no way we wanted to win the tie with a goal like that - we wanted to win the tie legitimately."

Allowing the opposition to score is not unprecedented - Yeovil allowed Plymouth to equalise under similar circumstances in a Carling Cup tie in 2004.

And, with a third-round tie at Ipswich at stake, the Spireites boss is keen to put the incident behind him and ensure his side come out on top in the replay.

We did not want to win in that fashion and therefore, once we had got our heads round it, we let Droylsden score Chesterfield boss Lee Richardson

"You'll have to ask Jack why he did it," said Richardson. "It is not something we have discussed.

"But we did not want to win in that fashion and therefore, once we had got our heads round it, we let Droylsden score.

"The circumstances were unique - it has never happened before in my career - but once they put the ball in the back of the net at the other end, that was it, it is over.

"There are other issues to discuss - the fact we have not kept a clean sheet again, that we have allowed Droylsden back in the game and that we have not finished the chances we should have taken.

"But we fancy the replay because it is a chance for us to put the record straight."

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