Chesterfield made one enforced change to the starting line-up against Lincoln, Darren Currie replacing the injured Talbot. Ben Algar was promoted to the bench. Both sides started at a decent pace but Chesterfield applied pressure on the Cross Street goal as the home fans created a decent atmosphere. Currie was visibly keen to be involved and his shot from a Till cross on 7 was cleared for the home side's first corner.

A minute later a Till cross was blocked for another flag kick. Robertson put his kick long and Downes headed it back for Gritton, who turned in the air to shoot narrowly over. With the home side dominant at this stage, a foul near the corner of the visitors' penalty box on 10 gave Robertson a chance to cross; his kick was spilled by the visitors' keeper and Hall calmly controlled and shot, but a Darlington man slid across to get in a block, at the expense of another corner. Yet another corner kick came the home side's way on 13, when a fine ball down the line to Niven saw the Scot cross. Hall headed just wide from Robertson's kick.

Downes clashed with Abbott and, while the challenge looked free of any intent, the young Aussie went down. With fears of a head injury cleared, it became obvious that his knee had taken a knock. After lengthy treatment he returned to the field.

Lester found Gritton on 24 and his shot was blocked by the resolute Miller for another Spireite corner. The initial kick was cleared but Till picked up the rebound and saw a shot blocked.

Dan Gray came on to replace the struggling Downes after 24 minutes.

Darlington showed attacking intent for the first time on 27, when Valentine's volley from a deep cross was saved by Lee.

Griffin was injured in a challenge with Wilson and had to be subbed on 34, his replacement being John Gray. Ravenhill was lucky to escape a booking after a late body-check on Niven; from the free kick, Lester flicked a header narrowly wide from 12 yards.

Josh Gray's involvement lasted but six minutes before a challenger from Niven left him struggling; he was replaced by Burgmeier, the Liechtenstein international midfielder. The sub's sub came close to scoring on the stroke of half time, when Lee pushed his 30-yard shot over the bar. Despite thre substitutions and a lengthy stoppage for treatment to Downes, the referee played only two minutes of added time. The word was that he wanted to catch the 9 o'clock ferry back to the Isle of Wight!

Halftime: 0-0.

Darlington came out and showed much more attacking intent in the second period. Lee had to be on his mettle to deal with two sharp shots as the visitors' sea-change in outlook perhaps surprised their hosts a little.

Dan Gray had a great chance to open the scoring on 57; Lowry's corner came over the defence in a broad arc to the defender, who seemed to have rather too much time to think about it and could only spoon his shot horribly side when well-placed to score.

While Ravenhill was doing his best to get booked with late-ish tackles and shirt-pulls, two Spireites became the only men to make it to the referee's notebook; the ref was suckered into booking Robertson after Poole knocked to ball hopelessly too far in front of him and then threw himself down at Gregor's feet, and Lowry followed him in after he brought Burgmeier down as he ran onto a through ball.

Boden replaced Currie on 59, with the midfielder receiving appreciative applause on his departure. Till came over to the left while Boden slotted into an attacking right-midfield role. For Darlo, Main replaced Hulbert on 74. Young Ben Algar was granted his first playing involvement of the season, coming on for Till after 78. Within a minute the winger took the ball past his full-back and drifted over a fine cross that fell for Boden, whose shot cannoned off the post and away.

Darlington finished the more threatening; Lester was forced to head clear from in front of his own goal-line on 88 and, although Chesterfield pressed hard again in the closing minutes, the winning goal would not come. Chesterfield's run of drawn games extended to four. Each draw has left everyone feeling unfulfilled, but each draw has, perversely, improved the club's standing as sides around them falter. No-one seems to want this last play-off place but, at the moment, we "don't want it" less than the others!

Full time: 0-0.