Jamie Lowry came into the side for the game at Peterborough today, taking the place of Adam Smith, who started on the bench. Goalie Michael Jordan made his first appearance as a sub this term. Given the change, Chesterfield were expected to operate a 4-4-2 with Fletcher and Lester up front and Lowry on the right of midfield.

Both sides showed positive signs early on; Roche had to be alert to rush out to deny McLean in the first minute, while Fletcher was just unable to get to Picken's raking cross a minute later.

A good Leven ball on 7 was headed on by Fletcher to Lester, who slotted the ball home but was immediately penalised for the challenge on Westwood and Day that saw him get on to the ball. From the free kick Peterborough rushed the ball forward, Newton crossed and McLean gave Peterborough United the lead with a crisp header after turning off his marker. A minute later McLean might have extended the lead with an overhead kick from another Newton cross on their right.

Fletcher got the ball in the net from a Leven cross on 14 but the goal was again disallowed for a foul. Posh won their first corner on 16 from a Downes clearance. Keats' corner to the far post met Westwood's head, but Roche was able to collect in comfort.

Lester went down in the box under Westwood's challenge and a penalty was awarded to Chesterfield, while Westwood was yellow-carded.The Iraqi goalie Jalal dived to his left to pull off a fine save. Chesterfield finally manufactured an equaliser that counted a minute later on 19, when LESTER got a toe onto a Leven cross to convert for the club's first away goal in the League since February 10^th. Lester became the first Chesterfield player to score in three successive games since The Chief, in January 2006.

Roche dropped the ball to present Posh with a chance that the keeper himself saved, thus atoning for the error as the action swung frantically from end to end. Kovacs was booked for a foul on Morgan and the player limped off to be replaced by Blackett on 25.

A Robertson cross on 31 was cleared for corner, which Winter took and Downes headed powerfully against the bar after ghosting in on the blind side, unmarked. Peterborough broke and Niven was forced to concede a corner at the other end. Phil Picken went into the book for persistent fouling.

Lowry was penalised for one of those high challenges that his opponent ducked into, and Roche was forced into a smart save to deny after Downes' header lacked distance to clear.

McLean fell awkwardly in a challenge with Kovacs to raise concern on 35, but the player recovered to continue. As the half progressed the heat caused the game's intensity to wane a little, but it was still good to watch. Lester mounted a strong challenge on Day as halftime approached and the referee added Lester's name to the three already noted thus far. McLean's shot flashed wide on the angle as the fourth official announced that five minutes of added time would be played. Chesterfield did not cope with this period at all well, with defensive errors adding pressure, and Posh restored their lead through Charlie Lee after the visitors failed to deal with a cross from Rene Howe after a good ball from Boyde

Halftime: Peterborough 2 Chesterfield 1

Roche had to come out to save at the feet of Howe on 48. Howe came through again two minutes later and Roche was forced to concede the corner. Keats' corner was not cleared but Howe's shot went wide Boyd's shot was deflected straight to the feet of McLean but Roche was alert to the danger on 52.

A good Chesterfield move on 53 nearly saw Leven in, but the offside flag stopped progress. Leven set Niven up but his shot was deflected, and Lowry's header back across did not test the keeper. Howe broke through our left on 57 and created space for the shot, but wasted the opportunity.

Jamie LOWRY scored his maiden Chesterfield goal on 58 to equalise. Lester picked the ball up and turned Westwood inside-out before shooting; it was parried, but only as far as Lowry and the youth team product slotted the ball home from an acute angle. This was reward for an approach that had seen the team take some risks at the back to go forward.

Chesterfield took the lead on 61: Robertson put over a delightful cross and NIVEN sneaked in to head home at the near post.

Wide man Low replaced central midfielder Keats on 65 as players from both sides took a water break in the sweltering heat. Peterborough abandoned their "diamond" formation for a straight 4-4-2. Allison replaced Fletcher on 69. Kovacs cleared Low's cross for a corner on 73, and Chesterfield cleared in a controlled fashion, allowing Leven to break; it came to Lowry and his cross was just taken off Lester's head by Jalal.

Picken cleared after Boyd looked set to score at the far post, but the former Chesterfield target had another chance that Roche parried on 76. The loose ball as cleared for a corner. Winter took a rocket shot in the face for the cause after pushes on Chesterfield defenders went unpunished. Winter was led off temporarily as the Spireites defended the corner successfully.

Strachan replaced Lee, who was suffering with cramp, on 81. A Boyd cross was punched away on 83 but Posh returned the ball and Boyd's header flashed inches wide. Another Peterborough corner eluded everyone and Niven knocked it long, but it went straight to a Peterborough man and came back in; Robertson was forced to concede a corner as Allison came back to bolster the defence. Downes headed Strachan's kick away and got to the return cross as Hyde clashed heads with Allison, bringing a break in play.