Dave Bentley, as speculated, made a few alterations to the squad. Chris Tingay was forced to sit the match out due to a groin injury picked up after reserve action in midweek, meaning Jake Handbury started in the right back position.

Sandy Moller slotted in at centre half along side Sam Clare replacing Matt Needham. Ben Watkis dropped back into an attacking midfield role switching with Sam Smith, who partnered Jordan Burrow upfront.

Weather conditions during the week had not aided the grounds staff at Millfield, with the pitch in an appalling state.

Chesterfield always knew that Darlington were going to be a tough opposition to beat and that proved to be the case after six minutes.

A deep searching cross from the left wing cleared Scott Webb's reach before being met by a Quaker head and striking the Spireite crossbar. The rebound was swiftly followed up, but the Chesterfield defence stayed adamant and defended the second attack off the line.

This early scare was followed up with another opportunity moments later and had it not been for the dreadful playing conditions, the Quakers might have took the lead when a black and white shirt found an opening through the Spireite defence, but lost his footing before he could unleash a shot.

Despite the early pressure Darlington were putting Chesterfield under, the Spireites soon found their stride and after Jimmy Adcock's battling in the middle of the park the ball found its way to Watkis, whose 25 yard effort crept wide of the target.

Burrow was one of many who struggled to stay composed on the difficult surface and lost his footing which resulted in his shot to be scuffed after some neat play with Smith on 20 minutes.

Chesterfield's confidence powered through as Craig Clay and Tendayi Darikwa tried their luck from distance as the Spireites edged closer to the opener.

Neither side were suited to the conditions but did their best and had decent opportunities before the half time whistle.

Darlington lead an attack after a miss placed Chesterfield ball put the Spireites immediately under pressure. The cross from the right wing allowed the Quakers striker to hold the ball up and turn in the Spireite area, but couldn't direct his effort on target as Webb watched the ball fly over the bar.

Handbury's long throw in somehow found its way through the scrappy tackles and half hearted clearances and fell to Smith whose deflected shot could of easily gone in.

As both sides went in at the half, it looked destine that one goal would decide the game.

The second half started stale with either side ruling the other out with attacks and defence, but in the space of 90 seconds the ball had gone from area to the next and back again.

Darlington's right winger had the chance to whip in a testing cross into the Spireite box and as Handbury failed to clear convincingly a black and white shirt had the chance to shoot, which Webb reacted brilliantly to palm away the danger.

Immediately the ball was up the other end after Burrow and Smith lead a quick counter attack. Smith's cross picked out Watkis who leaped to the ball and rattled the crossbar in the process, with Darikwa following the chance up, but the midfielder didn't quite get that bit of luck.

Before Chesterfield knew it, they were again on the back foot with another quick counter attack, but the end product couldn't hit the target.

This seemed to spark the match up and just showed how much either team wanted the three points.

Luckily, it was the Spireites that wanted it that little bit more and opened the scoring through Burrow on 76 minutes.

After Ryan Granger, Adcock and Darikwa's attack was broken down on the left, the Spireites had another bite at the apple on the opposite side as Handbury feed the ball to Watkis, who had moved to a wider position with the introduction of Shamus Beaglehole.

Watkis created himself some space to produce a dangerous cross into the six yard box, where a Darlo defender miss judged the ball resulting in Burrow being in possession and as the striker, who had hardly had a sniff all match, showed his predatory instincts he calmly slotted home from close range.

Even under the watchful of first team manager Steve Staunton, who was in attendance, Darlington couldn't level the match and Chesterfield held on to the one goal advantage until the final whistle with some first-rate defending from the back four through the guidance of Clay.

The Spireites got back to winning ways and will be looking to retain this type of performance as they face Bradford City next weekend at Warminster Road.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Granger, Moller, Clare, Handbury, Clay, Adcock, Darikwa, Watkis, Smith (Beaglehole 74), Burrow

Subs Not Used:  Edridge, Palmer, Needham, Wright

Goals: Burrow 76

Spireites reporting team Adam Hulme and Phil Oddy