Chesterfield 5  Burton Albion 3

Chesterfield's young guns returned to action after a lengthy spell away from competitive football in an eight goal thriller at a foggy Warminster Road. The last time these two sides met only one goal made the difference as the Spireites earned a well deserved victory away from home.

Dave Bentley had to do without regular captain Craig Clay, who had earned himself a call up to John Sheridan's first team. Clay had featured on the bench for the Spireites in their last four matches signaling big things for the youngster, with Chris Tingay taking the reins as youth captain.

Time away from regular football proved to cost Chesterfield dearly, as they found themselves two goals down in the opening 22 minutes. Burton's first came after just 12 minutes when a lofted free kick from the left caught the Spireites napping as they failed to deal with the threat and were punished despite Scott Webb's best efforts to save the close range effort.

The visitor's second was an action replay of the first, as another free kick from an identical position caught the Spireites off guard. Defender Sam Clare was unfortunate to put the ball into the back of his own net as he tried to clear the opposing danger.

Burton came close to extending their lead further with a low driven shot, but Webb was more than equal to the chance and held well before the Spireites finally found an attack. Sam Smith's neat pullback to Ben Watkis was fluffed but eventually found its way to Jimmy Adcock via Tendayi Darikwa. Adcock was denied his first goal of the year by the woodwork after his rasping shot looked set to pull a goal back for Chesterfield.

This was soon forgotten as Jordan Burrow did find the back of the net minutes later. The striker managed to scramble the ball past a handful of defenders despite their best efforts to keep the ball away. The match could have taken a completely different route if Burton's penalty appeal in the 28th minute was successful, but to the Spireites luck no such decision was made.

Just before the half hour mark and the game was levelled. Smith's drive forced the Burton number one into a poor clearance with Darikwa reacting quickest with the simplest of tap ins.

Another set piece and another goal for Burton as the visitors regained their lead through a well worked corner. An unmarked Albion player on the edge of the Chesterfield penalty box struck his shot into the ground causing the ball to bounce just in front of Webb, but as the Spireite defence failed to react, a Burton player snuck in to head over the Chesterfield number one.

Adcock pulled the match level again for the Spireites after some good work from forwards Burow and Darikwa. The Chesterfield winger struck his shot to perfection as the static goalkeeper had no choice but to watch the ball fly into his bottom corner.

After a disappointing first half, in Chesterfield's standards, the Spireites came out a different team after the re start. Early chances from Watkis and Burrow could have seen Bentley's side take the lead as their attacking style was once again back with them.

Watkis' excellent run was finished with a neat pass to Smith, as the attacking winger gifted Burrow the opportunity to score his second of the match and he didn't disappoint. Burrow's ferocious header rounded off an excellent Chesterfield move.

Watkis' performance was rewarded in the 62nd minute with a goal after Burrow and Darikwa again linked up well before the midfielder's edge of the box shot flew into the bottom left hand corner.

Chesterfield continued to seek more goals to assure that a late Burton comeback couldn't happen as Darikwa was denied by the post and Burrow's hat trick dream was struck wide.


Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Tingay, Moller, Clare, Granger, Edridge, Watkis, Smith, Adcock (Waddle 84), Darikwa, Burrow

Subs Not Used: Beaglehole, Palmer, Needham, West
Goals: Burrow 26, 55, Darikwa 29, Adcock 37, Watkis 62