Chesterfield had the game's first opportunity on 3, when Charnock's foul on Gritton left Robertson with a shooting chance from a free kick, but the Stanley wall stood up to the test. Stanley came back and Ryan shot over when well-placed on 6.
Stanley settled first and produced the game's first corner kick, on 13. Miles crossed and Cavanagh shot, but Gray blocked the effort. Stanley's second corner came to nothing on 15 and Chesterfield won their first flag kick of the game a minute later.
Accrington were forced to replace Williams with Richardson after 26 minutes, and Goodall's foul on Cavanagh brought a lecture from the referee.
Charnock got a foot to a cross and put the ball out for Chesterfield's second corner on 27. Lowry's delivery was gathered easily at the near post. By and large, though, the home side remained the more assured-looking in its play. Kay had a chance when the ball dropped to his feet on 33 but three Spireites crowded him out.
Ryan had a good chance on 36, shooting wide from around 20 yards.
Chesterfield came closest to scoring on 42 when Lowry found Lester, whose flick was touched goalwards by Gritton, but Proctor was on hand to clear off the line. A third Chesterfield corner was again easily gathered by Arthur, in the Stanley goal, on 45. Stanley came back and won a corner of their own; Goodall came away with it but could not find Lester.
After Stanley controlled the opening half-hour or so, the travelling support were relieved to see the visitors come back into it for the last fifteen of the first half, offering some optimism in a game that had to be won.
Halftime: 0-0.
Lester had an early second-half chance and Talbot went for the follow-up, but the ball went out for a goal kick. With Chesterfield attempting to keep the pressure on the home side broke; the ball came to Grant and, before Wilson could close him down, he lashed a firm shot past Lee to open the scoring, on 50.
Charnock took a knock to his head on 54 but recovered after treatment. Goodall's header from Lowry's 57th-minute corner flashed narrowly wide.
Derek Niven was yellow-carded for a 67th-minute foul on Grant as Scott Boden came on for Martin Gritton. Talbot appeared to move central to use his pace. Mullen replaced Kay for the home side after 70 minutes. Lester was crowded out on 73 but managed to find Talbot, who was brought down for a Chesterfield free kick, earning Charnock a yellow card. Winter replaced the injured Niven before the kick was taken and struck the thing himself, but Arthur was equal to it.
Jack Lester was sent off after 78 minutes for what must have been a verbally-based offence of some sort. Ryan put a free kick narrowly wide on 82. Darren Currie came on for Alan Goodall with just four minutes left. Turner replaced Ryan at the same time. Five minutes of added time had to be endured by the travelling Spireite faithful before the referee's whistle brought the curtain down on a season that promised better things with the summertime signings but fizzled out, like last time, in bitter disappointment.
