DARREN Currie has welcomed the second chance handed to Chesterfield in the FA Cup and believes justice has been served.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

DARREN Currie has welcomed the second chance handed to Chesterfield in the FA Cup and believes justice has been served.

The former Blues winger will return to Portman Road, probably on Saturday, after Droylsden were kicked out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

The non-league side are appealing and that will be heard tomorrow but it is unlikely they will succeed and after what has been one of the most bizarre ties in FA Cup history, Currie is looking forward to coming back to Portman Road.

He said: “It means everything to me to go back and play but has been am amazing series of events. Droylsden have played some very good football over the four games and beat us 2-1 the last time.

“But I still feel we thoroughly deserved to go through because if the lights had not gone out when we were winning 2-0 at their place we would already have been through.

“If the lights had stayed on then I'm sure we would have run out comfortable winners and probably by more than the two goals.”

The first game at Saltergate was abandoned at half-time due to fog with Droylsden 1-0 ahead. The next game finished 2-2 but only after Jack Lester had controversially put the Spirerites 2-1 up when the visitors thought the ball was going to be played back to the keeper after it was put out for an injury.

Chesterfield allowed Droylsden to equalise and set up a replay at the Butchers Arms Ground.

With Chesterfield coasting by goals from Lester and Currie, the floodlights failed with 20 minutes to go.

Although Droyslden won the fourth game 2-1 scorer Sean Newton was ineligible after picking up five bookings and the FA kicked the Blue Square North club out of the competition.

Currie said: “we had no idea the player was not supposed to have played. We were all very disappointed on the bus home but the first we heard of it was the next day when a whisper went round and the ball started rolling and we were back in the competition.

“It is a great opportunity for us and we have to do the best we can.”

Chesterfield will be without danger-man Lester for the Ipswich cup tie as he will be serving the third of a three-match ban after getting sent off against Droylsden.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk