Rotherham United 0 Chesterfield 2
With the blistering sun shinning down it was Chesterfield who kept their cool to continue their fine form with a two nil victory over a powerful Rotherham side at the Keepmoat. Two first half goals courtesy of midfield duo Tendayi Darikwa and Sam Smith were enough to seal the Spireites' third win of the season, despite the Millers constant pressure.
Rotherham got the match underway and made the most of having the home advantage in the opening ten minutes, with the Millers' number eight striking from distance on several occasions.
Despite a sluggish start, Jordan Burrow hit Chesterfield's first effort of the game on 13 minutes with a long range strike, however his shot didn't trouble the Millers' number one.
As the Rotherham number eight continued to prove an in connivance to the Spireites, he was unlucky not to give the home side the lead after 18 minutes, when he weaved his way through the Chesterfield team with ease, but his finished effort crashed against the side netting.
Chesterfield retaliated immediately and from the resulting goalkick pumped the ball up to the opposite end. Scott Webb's long pass picked out Burrow, who used his strength and height to tee up Darikwa for an opportunity, but the attacking midfielder's half volley fell short of the target.
Burrow and Darikwa linked up again just minutes later, but this time the outcome was more successful, as the Spireites took the lead. Granger's lengthy throw found target man Burrow, whose flick on was met by Darikwa, who fired from close range to put Chesterfield ahead on 20 minutes.
Burrow continued his impressive start and again tried his luck from outside the box, but couldn't quite find the target.
After an impressive 90 minutes last week, Watkis was hoping for a repeat performance, but a recurring injury cut the strikers match short after just 23 minutes.
It wasn't long before the Spireites had found the back of the net again, much credit to Sandy Moller's quick thinking and Jimmy Adcock's and Granger's clever play on the left. Moller's 50 yard freekick caught Rotherham on the back foot and gave Adcock and Granger the space to link up before delivering the ball into the Miller's penalty area. Sam Smith latched onto the cross and slotted home to double the Spireites score on the half hour mark.
Chesterfield came out a more confident side after the re start, but it was Rotherham who were unlucky not to pull a goal back just one minute after the restart. A headed chance looped over Webb, but luckily for Webb and Chesterfield, Granger cleared off the line to maintain his side's lead.
Retaliation was instant, when a minute later Craig Clay came inches from opening his account for the season, but the Millers keeper denied the Spireite captain and Darikwa's follow up cleared the bar.
Rotherham's frustration hit boiling point in the 65th minute when in the man in the black flashed the yellow card at the Millers' number eight.
Central defender Sam Clare became Chesterfield's second casualty of the match in the 73rd minute, when a landing from a challenge resulted in a suspected broken arm.
Despite Rotherham looking to salvage the match late on, the Spireites held their ground to take their unbeaten run to four.
Chesterfield (4-4-2) : Webb, Granger, Moller, Clare (Palmer 73), Needham, Clay, Darikwa, Adcock, Smith, Burrow, Watkis (Wright 23)
Subs Not Used: West, Handbury, Beaglehole
Goals: Darikwa 20, Smith 30
Report by Adam Hulme, Spireites youth team reporter
