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Our eighth successive defeat and now six points adrift from safety, our situation does not look good. Our performance at Blundell Park however was a vast improvement from the Llanelli shocker during the week, hinting that all is far from being lost yet.

All four of Brian Little’s new January signings were in the starting line-up for their league debuts; Gavin Ward in goal, Phil Bolland at the back, Danny Sonner in midfield and Paul Hall up front. There were also returns to the starting line-up for Richard Hope, Simon Spender, Mark Jones and Marc Williams.

Veterans Hall and Sonner made good early impressions, Hall in particular showing he wasn’t afraid to take a shot at goal early on. Grimsby created chances too but our defence had tightened up significantly from the other night though Steve Evans was forced to clear off the line at one point.

Both sides went close before the break. Hope had a shot that went wide of the post following a corner. Grimsby’s Paul Bolland saw his shot hit the crossbar after defensive mistakes gave him a great opportunity he should have taken advantage from. Overall we had more than held our own and looked like taking something from the game.

At the start of the second-half it was the home side that applied most of the pressure. Ward was made to work hard in putting off the lively threat of Grimsby’s Danny North forcing him wide of goal at one stage.

There was a stoppage for a change of referee as a linesman came on to replace the injured Graeme Salisbury. The substitution didn’t work to our advantage as shortly after we found ourselves a goal down.

A high long ball from the back for Grimsby caught us out. As Danny North raced onto it he got there well before Gavin Ward leaving him stranded. As the ball seemed set to drop over the line it looked as if Steve Evans had raced back just in time to prevent it from going in. As the tall centre-half cleared it away from the goalmouth the linesman signalled that it had crossed the line and the goal stood.

The goal gave Grimsby the impetus to try and kill the game off forcing Ward into saves from Gary Jones and North. Mark Jones then had to be stretchered off with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Andy Fleming, the youngster making his first appearance of the season.

Proctor and Done were went on shortly after and Steve Evans was also sent up front in search of an equaliser. It was Grimsby that came closest with time running out when their substitute Justin Whittle struck a post from a chance created out of nothing.

The numerous injuries and changes led to an additional six minutes of stoppage time being added on. We failed to take advantage of it and lost yet another game. In other circumstances a defeat away to a team on form like Grimsby would not be too difficult to take. In our predicament however every defeat starts to feel like a nail in the coffin.

As mentioned at the beginning there is cause for some optimism. The recent additions of Sonner and Hall have added something positive to the side that was missing before. Sonner has great perception and Hall offers a pacy outlet up front with the threat of a genuine end product.

Most importantly they both have vast experience and seem to have hunger for the fight – exactly what we need in this situation, especially after we looked so resigned to failure at the end of the Llanelli game.

We’re at home to league leaders MK Dons next week. They’re not invincible as they lost at home to Barnet this weekend. With the encouragement from the performance against Grimsby, and maybe another new face or two, it’s not totally inconceivable we could get something from the game especially if we have a strong home support. Here’s hoping…

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Wrexham FC began 2008 just as they ended the last year; with a defeat that keeps them rooted to the bottom of the whole Football League. In truth most Wrexham fans were hoping for rather than expecting anything from this game.

Chesterfield were much the better side for the majority of it but perhaps we can take heart from our late rally.

Brian Little caused raised eyebrows again with his starting line-up. Simon Spender and Levi Mackin re-appeared and there was a first-ever league appearance for Conall Murtagh. Our Northern Irish Uni. Student/central midfielder was back after a long injury lay-off. Having released Matty Crowell the day before it was obvious Little wanted to take a look at our other fringe players, particularly those in midfield.

Quite simply we took a battering from the home side in the first half. On six minutes we were 1-0 down when an Anthony Williams clearance went straight to Peter Levin. Levin then proceeded to chip Williams from a distance as Williams scrambled to get back on his line. Williams got a hand to the ball but only to help it into the back of the net.

The Spireites continued to create further opportunities through the likes of Niven, Rooney and Jack Lester.  We suffered a further blow when an injury to the impressive Murtagh from a clash of heads saw him substituted for Neil Taylor. Ryan Valentine moved into midfield to protect the defence again.

Just before half-time some slack Wrexham defending let the prolific Jack Lester shoot home from a Levin cross that our defence could have dealt better with. We finished the half 2-0 down and made no initial improvement in the second period.

Proctor came on for Aiston but Chesterfield were still far too in control of the game. They received a shock however when Levi Mackin, who had been struggling to impress so far, took a corner that via Chris Llewellyn met a powerful header from Steve Evans to pull a goal back. That goal certainly changed the last 20 minutes. 

We were now on top with Chesterfield being pegged back as we threw everything at them. Chances fell to Llewellyn and Proctor and we had an attempt cleared of the line but in the end Evans’s goal turned out to be no more than a consolation.

It is difficult to keep looking for signs of encouragement when we keep losing and seem to have been in the relegation zone forever.  The latter part of this game showed what can happen though with just a little boost in confidence. If Little could find some way of motivating the side to start games like that, rather than always starting second best, we’d probably be OK.

It’s now January and Little can start to bring his own players in to try and haul us back into the survival fight before we get cut adrift. Crowell has gone and Garrett looks to be on his way. It remains to be seen which of our squad have or haven’t impressed him. The unlucky Murtagh, forgotten about by a few fans before this game, was certainly impressing before his opportunity was cruelly cut short.

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