Lee Richardson's admitted temptation to tinker with last Wednesday's winning line-up amounted to no more than teasing, since an unchanged starting eleven contested the match with Notts County this afternoon.
Drew Talbot broke into the box in pursuit of a loose ball and caused problems as early as the first minute. Chesterfield won a corner on 4, but Robertson's delivery did not trouble the defence. A free kick on 6 gave County a chance to get the ball into the box and Facey's header was saved by Lee.
Hall conceded County's first corner on 9, which Hamshaw took and Johnson connected with, but headed over the bar. Lester broke through onto a Gray ball but Lillis - the goalie - came out of his box to head away. Lillis again had to rescue his back four on 11 as Talbot broke through. Lee tipped over Nowland's shot on 17 and Hamshaw's corner was cleared by Hall.
County were forced to replace Nowland with Wedderburn on 20.
Clapham's 24th-minute shot flew narrowly wide as County came closest yet to opening the score. After an even start County were just starting to have the edge, but The Spireites replied strongly when Gritton blasted over after a direct move forward on 28.
Forester broke through on 32 as the defence stepped forward to look for offside, but Lee did well to deny him at the expense of County's fourth corner of the game. Edwards had a fine chance as the ball broke loose from Hamshaw's kick but he squeezed it several yards wide. Winter cleared from Thompson as County pressed in strength.
A little against the run of play, then, Chesterfield took the lead on 37 when Drew TALBOT latched onto Lester's pass to loop the ball over Lillis and into the top corner, in some style.
Forester went down too easily under a challenge on 40 and the ref was unimpressed; Talbot broke and was fouled, earning Thompson a booking. Winter's chipped free kick was headed away. Hall was yellow-carded for a foul on Weston on the edge of the visitors' penalty area, on 43. Hamshaw's free kick was drilled over the bar.
Halftime: Pies 0 Spireites 1
Chesterfield won an early corner when the lime-green boot of Weston nicked the ball off Lester as he was about to shoot. Hamshaw cleared. County pressed and a shot hit Downes on 51, but calls for a penalty were turned down.
Chesterfield replaced Till with Goodall on 58. Lillis saved well after Lester dragged the ball into a tight angle before shooting on 59.
County won their first corner of the half on 64 when Robertson deflected a shot away; Johnson headed the kick wide.
Gritton was yellow-carded on 75 after fouling Thompson. County pressed and Winter gave a free-kick away near their box on 78. Hamshaw's kick struck the wall and their pressure forced another corner on 79. Downes headed this away but Thompson shot; his shot clipped the post but the linesman's flag went up for offside.
Going into the last ten Chesterfield were being forced slowly deeper and clearances were becoming aimless hacks. Hall brought Hamshaw down on 82 and was given a second yellow card. County brought Canham on for Forester while Chesterfield brought Austin into the game, for Drew Talbot.
County won a corner on 86 after Austin blocked a cross; Clapham shot wide from Hamshaw's flag kick. Derek Niven came on for Martin Gritton on 88. Lee collected Canham's header from Facey's flick in stoppage time. As County's pressure brought no reward the thrust to their play deteriorated and Chesterfield were able to battle to three Meadow Lane points since it became three points!
Attendance: 4953 (including 844 happy Townsfolk.)
