Slack defending cost Chesterfield three vital points against a well organised Grimsby side as an 85th strike sealed victory for the Mariners despite the Spireites taking the lead early in the first half through Jimmy Adcock in the latest Football League Youth Alliance League fixture.

With the Spireites' next three matches being essential title contention games, Dave Bentley was thankful that Jordan Burrow overcame a late injury scare that occurred in training yesterday, as well as the return of Jake Handbury to full fitness. Jordan Edridge, who was stretched off last weekend, was absent along with Sandy Moller who has been out of action for an extensive period.

Grimsby didn't offer much in return earlier in the season as the Blues ended the match comfortable winners with a brace from Ben Watkis and one a piece from Burrow and Tendayi Darikwa. But despite this, Bentley knew that nothing could be taken for granted in a league that any team are capable of beating the next on their day.

Craig Clay, fresh from John Sheridan's defeat against Notts County in midweek, replaced the injured Edridge in the diamond midfield formation and produced the first on target shot for the Spireites on nine minutes. Chris Tingay's distanced throw on the right wing came back out to the Chesterfield captain, whose half volley, despite its awkward bounce proved to be dealt with easily by the opposition's goalkeeper.

Chesterfield continued their positive approach to the match when Jimmy Adcock's fed ball to Burrow allowed the striker in for a half chance, although the Spireite number 11 should have maybe squared off Clay who appeared to be in a better position.

Bentley's earlier supremacy was rewarded with a contender for goal of the season. Tingay's visionary ball across field picked out Adcock, whose grit set the winger up for a volley, which he took with a magnificent finish that dipped over the helpless keeper to give Chesterfield the lead.

The home side soon woke to Chesterfield's early onslaught and began creating danger for themselves. A combination of neat tidy passes ended with a long drive being collected by Scott Webb without much complication. Another worrying moment passed the Spireites by when a strong run by the Mariners number seven was topped with a cross-turned shot that crossed the empty goal, going out for a goalkick.

With the match shaping up into a well contested affair, the Mariners found a way to level the game up just seconds before the half time whistle sounded. A Chesterfield attack was broken down in the Grimsby third and a quick counter move by the home side saw a long distance ball beat the Spireites' last man Sam Clare, with the black and white shirted player keeping his cool to calmly equalise from an acute angle.

The home side had completely turned the match round within minutes of the re start, a whipped in cross from the right hand side was converted from close range past Webb, with scrappy defending being the culprit.

Once in the lead, the Spireites now found themselves chasing the game. Tingay's up field ball divided the centre backs into two as Burrow judged the ball to perfection, waiting for the bounce before connecting with a volley that tested the goalkeeper's quick reactions.

That was to be Tingay's last attacking contribution as a routine tackle saw the right back leave the field of play with suspected ligament damage.

Burrow saw another chance go begging on 66 minutes after Watkis and Sam Smith linked up well to feed in the striker, who scuffed wide. This momentum continued as Adcock, again after a well worked corner routine from Smith and Watkis, saw his rasping effort smash the post.

Chesterfield's brightest player kept battling and almost pulled the match level on 76, when Adcock's effort looked a certain goal, but missed the target by inches as the fully stretched goalkeeper had no chance.

The break through did finally come the Spireites way with just ten minutes remaining. Smith's well executed freekick was met by Darikwa's headed finish to level game with Chesterfield on a high.

This high soon came crashing down as the home side stole a late winner five minutes later after Webb and his defence were in two worlds when, again a dangerous cross was failed to be cleared resulting in another close range effort being smashed into the back of the net.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Tingay (Handbury 63), Needham, Granger, Clare, Smith, Clay, Adcock, Watkis, Darikwa, Burrow

Subs Not Used: Beaglehole, Palmer, Wright, West

Goals: Adcock 12, Darikwa 80

Spireites reporting team Adam Hulme and Phil Oddy

The Spireites youth team is sponsored

by David C Jones Insurance Services