After having the better of the first half, Chesterfield were forced to repel a strong Rotherham fightback to claim all three points at the Rec this afternoon.

The Spireites began with Folan and Shaw, the ex-Miller, paired up front. Shaw's recall meant a place on the bench for Colin Larkin. Both sides kept the game compact early on; Rotherham sought to get forward through Facey, but without success, while the homesters probably leaned a little too much on the long ball to begin with.

As early as the fourth minute, Aaron Downes won an attacking header from and O'Hare free kick, sending the ball back across the Millers' box. Sharps intervened to clear for a corner, which swung out of play as it came over. At the other end Downes cleverly played the ball off Hoskins for a goal kick after both players were involved in a chase down our right.

Chesterfield took the lead in the ninth minute. Hurst began breaking down the Millers' left and the ball was worked to Hall on the other side. He pulled the ball back, wrong-footed his fullback and crossed for FOLAN, who rose with the keeper and won the header to plant the ball home, from the edge of the 6-yard box.

The Millers fashioned an equaliser two minutes later. The ball came to Hoskins in the Spireites' box, and he laid it back to Woods. Chesterfield's defence was slow to close down, but Woods made a horrible mess of his shot. In a copy of Constantine's goal against us for Port Vale the other week, though, the "shot" screwed straight into the path of Hoskins, who rifled home from around twelve yards.

The game entered its quietest period as both sides took stock. A good O'Hare covering header on 16 denied Facey the opportunity to pursue a long ball, while Hurst was denied by a fair and powerful tackle as he burst through the middle on 17. Chesterfield upped the pace on 26, as a Shaw knockdown to Picken allowed the fullback to find Hurst, whose 25-yard shot was turned wide by Cutler. Hall found good space on 27 to receive Picken's pass and find Shaw, who put the ball into the net from 12, only for the Assistant Referee to flag for offside.

The former Rotherham man was not to be denied, though. A minute later, Folan's astute pass split the defence and Shaw raced clear, with Miller arms waving in vain for offside. Shaw bore down on Cutler and cut to his left, leaving the keeper sprawling, before stroking the ball home from eight yards. He might have had another, on 33, when he met Picken's short cross with a near post juggle, turn and shot that crashed into the side netting.

Rotherham began the second half brightly, seeking to restore parity, and it took determined defending to keep them at bay. Hoskins went down under a Downes challenge in the box on 49 but no penalty was given. There was an incident of great controversy at the other end, on 54: Folan raced through the defence and tried to lob Cutler as the keeper came out too early, and handled some five or so yards outside the area. It was a goalbound shot, on first lookings there didn't appear to be any covering defenders and it looked a nailed-on red card for the Millers keeper. Mysteriously, the referee produced only a yellow card, and proceeded to make such a meal of waving it that it looked like he'd booked the several Spireites who queried the decision!

Folan was pulled back while running through on 55 but no foul was given and the crowd became incandescent with rage when one of several handball shouts were ignored. Meanwhile, the tempo of both sides' tackling increased as the timing worsened - things were warming up nicely!

Williamson kept his side in it on the hour, battling with Folan to head away from under the bar after Downes had headed on an O'Hare free kick. When the ball came back in Robertson was there to hack the ball off the line. This spurred the Millers on and Hazell made rapid tackles on each side of his own area to keep the visitors out. Rotherham pushed hard as the match closed but were prevented from concocting any clear chances by a resolute rearguard in which Hazell's fine ground work was matched by Downes in the air.

Hoskins had the ball in the net on 81 but the flag was up for offside, and the same player fashioned a snap shot that sailed over on 90. In injury time Mills stole in at the far post to meet a cross but headed wide under close attention from a determined defence.

Apart from the one moment of indecision when Rotherham equalised, the defence was impressive throughout. Picken had his most influential game so far this season; Downes looked confident and capable (and isn't it amazing how easy this centre-half stuff is when you don't let the ball bounce!) while Hazell dealt with he ground-based threat of Hoskins with aplomb. O'Hare did well at the back and offered more to moves forward, too.

Niven's usual energetic performance was matched by Allott, who looked knackered by the end! Hurst and Hall both looked sharp on the midfield flanks; some of Hursty's crosses didn't come off, but there were far more of them, and a greater proportion were dangerous. Shaw cannily put pressure on across the Millers rearguard but Folan again caught the eye, giving the visitors' defence a torrid time on the deck and in the air to pick up Man of the Match awards to go with the Supporters Club Player of the Month award he received before the game.

SB