Chesterfield matched the miserable conditions at Warminster Road with an equally miserable performance to reward local rivals, Mansfield Town, their fifth win of the season and sweet revenge for defeat in the FA Youth Cup.

Dave Bentley named an unchanged 11 to the side that defeated Wigan Athletic last week, but was once again without Sandy Moller amongst the substitutes.

Mansfield Town knew that a repeat performance against the Spireites would add to their already poor goal difference for the season.

It was the visitors that created the first opening on goal after just two minutes of Chesterfield kicking the match off. A Stags' short corner caught the Spireites napping, with the delivery being met at the back post by the Mansfield number ten, whose free header fell just marginally wide of Scott Webb's post.

Chesterfield seem to perk up slightly and a neat one two between Craig Clay and Tendayi Darikwa was enough to feed Jordan Burrow through with a sight on goal, but the striker couldn't quite pick the ball out of his feet to make the chance worthwhile.

A minute later and Chris Tingay almost gave the Spireites the lead when his skilfully placed freekick beat both the wall and the goalkeeper, but couldn't beat the crossbar as the shot struck the woodwork and went over.

Mike Whitlow's side were well aware of the two Chesterfield strikers, with the two unable to play their normal game. Crosses from both flanks through Jimmy Adcock and Sam Smith were rarely met by any real presence, with Burrow's glancing header ten minutes before the break being the blues best chance.

The visitors had a long range shot just moments before the half time whistle, when a rasping 25 yard strike beat both Webb and his far post, but fortunately for the blues it went wide for a goalkick.

Despite only just returning from injury last weekend, defender Sam Clare was forced off at half time with a suspected groin injury, leaving Gerome Palmer to take position along side Matt Needham at the back.

Two bookings after the re start took the total for the match to four, with both sides not giving much away in the physical encounter beginning to occur in the middle of the park.

Webb's long goalkick almost turned into an assist, as the ball forced the opposing goalkeeper into hitting the ball against his own player, which could have ended up anywhere, but went out to safety for a corner after Burrow instinctively chased it down.

With time running out for the Spireites, they pushed on in an attempt to salvage something out of the game and almost did when a clever one-two between Ryan Granger and substitute Josh Wright teed up Clay inside the box, but the captain's first touch took the opportunity away.

The visitors responded in positive fashion and took the lead when a short freekick played inside the Spireites half allowed the Stags' striker the time and the space to turn Palmer and fire the ball past Webb into the top corner, with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Chesterfield had no answer to the goal and as time counted down the Spireites failed to level the match despite their best efforts to attack the Stags' defence.

The Spireites day was made worse deep into stoppage time, when Mansfield ruled out any chance of a late Chesterfield comeback with a second goal. Another freekick foolishly given away by the Spireites was sweetly struck before hitting the bar and dropping into the Chesterfield goal past the helpless Webb to rub salt into the wounds of the blues.

Chesterfield now have just days to find their form before their FA Youth Cup second round clash against Northampton Town on Tuesday night.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Granger, Tingay, Needham, Clare (Palmer 46), Adcock (Wright 64), Clay, Darikwa, Smith, Watkis, Burrow

Subs Not Used: Edridge, Beaglehole, West

Spireites reporting team Adam Hulme and Phil Oddy