Lee Richardson named a completely unchanged side - subs n' all - for the visit of Notts County to Saltergate this afternoon. County came defending a long unbeaten run that was made up almost entirely of drawn games, which suggested they'd be difficult to break down, but might struggle to create chances.

A blatant push on Page in the first minute went unnoticed by the Premiership referee and led to a Notts corner, which Downes headed away, his first involvement in a busy and commanding afternoon for him. Good build-up by Chesterfield produced a corner for the home side after Ward's shot was blocked.Notts pushed forward as two teams in a hurry to take command forced the game from end to end. Hamshaw got round Robertson and kept the ball in but Gregor recovered to concede another corner. Ward broke from this and crossed for Lester to shoot a yard wide.

Chesterfield were forced into an early substitution when Robertson had to be replaced on 8. With the game in its infancy Kevin Austin was chosen to come on and play left-back. Alan Goodall continued to get forward from left midfield and had a fine chance from a Lowry cross on 12, but shaded his header wide of the target after forcing past three men to get on the end of it. Two minutes later Chesterfield squandered another good chance, when Austin was left alone as Goodall's corner came over; the big defender planted his header wide from six yards.

It was a day when Chesterfield worked hard as a team to charge down shots and harry opponents, and a Hamshaw shot deflected off Page for another corner on 21. In chasing the clearance, Ward caused worried frowns by pulling up and feeling the top of his buttock, but elected to continue.

WARD recovered quickly and effectively. On 28 he easily beat a disorganised offside trap to take a clever Lester pass to goalkeeper Hoult's right, before slotting home from around eight yards to give Chesterfield the lead. Notts pushed forward in search of the leveller but were unable to manufacture any clear chances. Johnson, whose inclusion had been a gamble on County's part, appeared to break down after getting a kick on his foot and breaking a boot.

Halftime: 1-0 to Town.

The attendance of 4,134 included 1,076 from Notts and both sets of fans provided a lively atmosphere, reflecting committed performances from their heroes. County replaced Johnson with Mayo at halftime and pressed from the resumption, but all they had to show for it was a 54^th-minute corner that came to nothing, after Page got over to block a Weston cross. Two minutes after that Chesterfield relieved the pressure in the best possible way, by extending their lead. Breaking forward, Ward found Lester; his way to goal was blocked by so many defenders that GOODALL was granted the space to advance to the edge of the box, take the pass from Jack and fire at the goal. Hoult looked to have it but it deflected off Clapham and flew in.

Chesterfield's two goal lead lasted only a couple of minutes before FACEY pulled one back. A low cross from Weston on County's right was driven at the near post; it appeared to fly up and went to Facey, who reacted well to head home from a couple of yards. Carson and Austin, on the line, were both deceived by the sudden change in the ball's flight and were powerless to intervene.

This goal encouraged County to mount their most concerted spell of pressure. Still Chesterfield got bodies in the way, though, and denied them anything clear-cut. Carson was in observant form and got down well to save from Clapham on 70. The pacy Weir-Daley replaced Forrester on 71. Lowry felt something go and signalled to the bench, being replaced by Niven on 74. This provoked the afternoon's only disapproval from the vocally supportive crowd, who were probably unaware that Jamie had hurt himself. Niven motored forward a couple of minutes after coming on and nearly squeezed a shot home from close range, but the angle made it difficult and Thompson came across in panic to head away from in front of his own keeper.

Chesterfield's recovered composure after County's spell of pressure and looked more comfortable as the game approached its conclusion. Harsley replaced Winter on 42; Jamie had been forced to plug away with two men attacking him for most of the half in order to allow Lloyd Kerry to get up in support, and although his distribution suffered as a result, he battled on creditably. The substitution had a Midas touch about it when Chesterfield broke quickly from their own half; Ward played the ball out to Niven, who got a cross in and it squeezed through to HARSLEY, who converted from close range to put the game beyond Notts. A Kerry shot in stoppage time was pushed over in fine style by Hoult.

Chesterfield's team spirit shone today. The willingness to put your body in the way for your mates was obvious, as was the willingness to chase down a team-mate's misplaced pass and turn it to the side's advantage. No-one exemplified this "team first" ethos more than Jack Lester. He is obviously an accomplished goalscorer and our opponents know this, packing players round him to crowd him out. Today we made this work to our advantage, though, and others came up to exploit the space created. Like a willing apprentice, Jack chased everything that was put forward; when in possession he drew players towards him before attempting clever passes to bring others in. We've found a way to beat teams at home when Jack can't get close enough to score. Today wasn't a "Lesterfield" win, but firmly a "Team Chesterfield" one.

SB