The Spireites reintroduced Jack Lester after suspension and gave a full debut to Brendan Moloney, the Nottingham Forest full-back. Moloney's introduction allowed Jamie Lowry to move into midfield, replacing Adam Rooney in a 4-4-2. Rooney joined the displaced Steve Fletcher on the bench, with Alan O'Hare, Michael Barnes and goalie Michael Jordan.

Robertson shrugged off a foul to find Ward, who tested the goalie within the first thirty seconds. Connell came close with a direct free-kick on 7. A good move from a Brentford throw on 12 left Poole unmarked near the edge of the area but Roche was equal to his shot. Winter brought Shakes down on 17 and Poole's shot won a corner. From the kick, Roche was forced to save with his legs from Connell, as the home side pressed.

Good work by Moloney provided Lester with a shooting opportunity on 20, but it was charged down. At the other end Smith's shot forced Roche to concede another corner, as the Irishman berated his defence for going awol. The ball was partially cleared from the flag kick and Poole's volley from the loose ball was saved by Roche.

Brentford's pressure brought reward on 25 when Connell found Smith in the box, and his neat finish drilled past Roche to give the home side the lead.

The Spireites responded with a good move that gave Ward half a chance. Connell got into the box without being challenged but couldn't make more of the opportunity. Leven took a free kick after Ward was fouled on 34, but the ball went into the arms of the unchallenged keeper.

A 37^th-minute foul on Lowry left the midfielder needing treatment.

From nothing, and very much against the run of play, Chesterfield equalised through LESTER. Niven and Leven had combined to looked for Ward, but Niven'spass deflected to the prolific Spireite frontman, and the result was a formality; Jack's cool finish brought the sides level.

Gary Smith went into the book on 41 for a clumsy foul as the Bees stuttered, but Connell chipped towards the back post and the ball squeaked wide as Roche grasped at thin air.

Halftime: Bees 1 Spireites 1

Steve Fletcher replaced Jamie Winter at half time: the Spireites began with Ward on left midfield and Leven in the centre. The visitors won a corner in the first minute of he second half but Downes was judged to have fouled in trying to get to Leven's flag kick. Ward won the Spireites' second corner of the half on 53, off Pead; Ward took it himself to the near post: Hamer fisted away and Poole was able to break.

Chesterfield looked more comfortable with the halftime changes and were able to keep the ball to more effect. Lester laid it off to Leven near the edge of the box on 57 and the Scots schemer's shot was held at the second attempt; a goalkeeping error presented Chesterfield with their next corner but Hamer recovered to claim the ball. 59 saw Roche concede a corner but Niven blocked O'Connor's shot and Kovacs blocked another effort behind for another corner. Roche punched and it was returned by Montague, and blocked on the line by Niven; it came to Poole on the edge of the "D" and he sidefooted it past Roche to restore Brentford's lead.

Lowry took the ball from Fletcher on 66 and shot but the ball struck the post; Ward tried his luck a minute later but shot over the bar. Brentford brought Lee Thorpe on for Montague on 70. Osborne looked to foul Lester in the box on 73 but the referee was unimpressed with the penalty claim.

Adam Rooney replaced Moloney on 75, with Lowry dropping into defence. Connell's header was tipped over at the expense of another corner by the stretching Roche on 79. Hamer pulled off a good save to claim Lowry's cross on 86. Brentford won successive corners as full time approached; Chesterfield left three up in the hope of catching the homesters on the break but Brentford looked to have put the game beyond Chesterfield's reach with a third goal, which was disallowed for offside.

Ward got to Rooney's ball on the edge of the Brentford area but the ball was cleared by Osborne; Thorpe fouled Niven and earned a yellow card on 89. Mousinho replaced Shakes to use up time. Lowry's free kick found Downes at the far post but the ball ended up in the side netting.