A side that performs poorly is usually given the chance to redeem itself straight away - so it proved with Lee Richardson's team selection, which offered a completely unchanged line-up, subs and all, from the Barnet game last week. Notts' side was skippered by Jason Lee, once sent off for Chesterfield at Meadow Lane, and included Lawrie Dudfield on the bench.

Notts shaped up to go 4-3-3: they'd probably had spies at the Barnet game. Canoville went into a 50-50 challenge with Leven on 3; the Scot got enough on it to send the ball goalwards but was caught, just, by the tackle. Notts won the game's first corner on 4: it came to Weir-Daley but he couldn't get a shot away, and Winter got the ball clear to Lester. With Niven in support he raced forward but nothing came of the break. Weir-Daley got past Kovacs on 7 but Downes cleared up and good work from Lester won a throw in County territory.

The opening ten was even, then. Niven made a decoy run into the box as Fletcher's header came in and pulled enough of the defence with him to present Lester with a chance. At the other end Weir-Daley's pace did for Picken and won a corner, which Roche punched and Winter cleared. Sam picked the ball up and shot over.

Chesterfield won their first corner on 17 when Robertson's cross was deflected out. A short routine saw a cross come over eventually but a foul allowed County to clear. On 19, Chesterfield were awarded a free kick 25 yards out, and central, and Leven's well-flighted free kick had the visitors' fans on their feet as it flashed just wide.

Notts took the lead a minute after that, when Hunt stooped to head in a quality cross from McKenzie.

Winter went into the ref's notebook on 29, apparently for something he said. Pilkington was forced into a good save from Lester's shot after good approach play from Lowry and Picken on 32. Winter got onto Robertson's ball on 34 and crashed a shot against the post as the visitors began to mount a response to going behind.

Lester had the visitors' best opportunity so far after great play between Robertson and Leven, but Pilkington got to it somehow to tip it over the bar. Niven's shot from the corner missed the target and Fletcher head over just before half time. The Spireites' response to going behind had been a good one and they dominated the later portion of the first half, but the sides remained separated by the game's only goal at halftime.

Halftime: Pies 1   Spireites 0

McKenzie's long shot whizzed past Roche's post on 47. Dudfield came on for Hector Sam on 53, perhaps to keep Robertson pinned back in defence, for the left-back had been enjoying a good game going forward. Fletcher pulled up shortly after that and was replaced by Rooney on 56, and the new man was involved in winning his side's first corner of the second half, a minute later. Winter's kick didn't clear the first man. Picken was clouted by Lee and took it out on Butcher, for which he became the second Spireite into the referee's book. Lee challenged Downes and Winter very firmly, let's say, and the officials became involved, but Chesterfield kept their heads pretty well and forced another corner, which the keeper claimed too easily.

County were being penned back by consistent Spireite pressure and responded by replacing Weir-Daley with Parkinson on 68. Downes went into the book for a foul on Lee.

Jackson came on for Winter on 70: Leven moved central and Jackson went over to the left. County won a rare corner on 71, which Mayo took, and Jackson capitalised on a mix-up to break; Rooney and Lester worked the ball to Niven, but his shot cleared the bar. Good refereeing saw Butcher booked on 76 for a foul he'd committed some minutes earlier, and from which advantage was played. Dudfield followed him into the book for a foul on Kovacs.

Picken's cross was cleared for another corner, which Picken himself took, but the ball was cleared. The Spireites were getting opportunities but lacked quality in crossing as the game threatened to become scrappy.

The Chief came on for Lowry on 82 as the side went 4-2-4 in a last throw of the dice. The front four were joined by the likes of Downes and Kovacs as the final whistle loomed. With men being committed up front Parkinson found himself unmarked at the back post to head Silk's cross, but Roche saved well. As the match entered stoppage time :Picken came forward and shot inches wide of the County post.