Chesterfield start campaign with draw at Dorking

Vanarama National League:

Dorking Wanderers 2 (McShane 67, Moore 77)

Chesterfield 2 (Asante 18, Dobra 41)

Chesterfield ultimately had to make do with a point from their National League opener on Saturday as newly-promoted hosts Dorking battled back from two goals down.

Spireites also had to play much of the game not only with ten men but with midfielder Ollie Banks in goal, after keeper Lucas Covolan had been sent off midway through the first-half for an off-the-ball incident, Branden Horton also red carded in stoppage time.

And they couldn't quite hold out for the win despite plenty of promise throughout the afternoon.

Asante saw a header easily saved by keeper Slavomir Huk early on but would soon put his side in front, Armando Dobra setting up to fire home from an angle on 18 minutes.

Covolan then saw red following a tangle with Dorking's Ryan Seager, the referee deeming his actions to have been violent conduct and Banks forced to take over in goal with no keeper named on the bench.

But Spireites doubled their lead just before half-time as Liam Mandeville found Dobra and he finished superbly to make it 2-0. Dorking responded well after the break and after James McShane had put an effort over the top, he then did manage to score as he guided home a Bobby-Joe Taylor cross to reduce the arrears.

And the scores were levelled on 78 when Luke Moore was on hand to net from a cross from former Matlock Town man Niall McManus.

Banks earned his corn with a great save late on before Horton was sent off for a second bookable offence in the dying moments, the honours even as the final whistle soon sounded.