Dave Bentley's unit continued their recent run of good form with a convincing victory over Steve Thornber's Rotherham United to notch up their sixteenth League win of the season with a 4-1 victory.
Boosted by the return of the experienced Sandy Moller, who went straight into the starting eleven in place of the in form Gerome Palmer due to injury, Chesterfield were full of confidence scoring five goals in their last two matches.
Conditions were to play a major part in the way both teams would play their football as the wind picked up prior to kick off and showed no signs of dying down at the open pitch at Warminster Road.
It was the visitors that started the match the brighter of the two and saw a brace of early chances blaze over the bar, after slack Chesterfield defending allowed the bottom side in the League opportunities to take an early advantage.
The Spireites immediately raised their game and could have equally opened the scoring. Jimmy Adcock's dangerously floated ball into the Millers' penalty box looked menacing, but a trio of blue shirts failed to latch on to the end.
From then on Chesterfield looked to take the game to Rotherham and pressed the visitors further. After impressing last weekend against the Stags, Tendayi Darikwa started again in threatening fashion and saw a number of close range efforts denied by the Millers' goalkeeper. Sam Smith's neat one-two with Moller feed Darikwa for a headed chance and after Ben Watkis had played in the Spireite number nine, the keeper was more than equal to the challenge.
However, it wasn't long before the Spireites did open the scoring. Despite their attacking threats and constant appeal to play football, it was a route one move that gifted Watkis his eighth League goal of the season. Scott Webb's long ball was precisely met by the head of target man Jordan Burrow and with Watkis instinctively anticipating the flick on, the attacking midfielder exquisitely lobbed the stranded goalkeeper.
To the delight of Bentley Chesterfield doubled their lead just three minutes before the break. Originally stemming from Webb's quick reaction save, a fantastic Spireite move was to follow. Craig Clay's one-two with Burrow squared Darikwa up who executed from close range with a furious shot.
This two goal advantage was short lived when just a minute before half time the visitors had narrowed the difference to just one goal. A Rotherham attack from the left was only half cleared as far as the Millers' number seven, who unleashed a 30 yard thunderbolt unstoppable by Webb.
The second half started in dull fashion but the player's spirits remained positive. With either side willing to commit, knowing that another goal could decide the match, the game turned into a midfield battle.
With 66 minutes played Chesterfield proved just that. Granger's attacking run down the left wing ended with a looping cross that saw Smith get a vital touch before Darikwa used his chest to tee up a volley that smashed the back of the net.
This appeared to kill any motivation the Millers had left as the Spireites capitalised on this further. Substitute Jordan Edridge came close to scoring for the second time from the bench this season, but saw his effort blocked by the goalkeeper after some good play from Darikwa, Clay and Josh Wright.
With just minutes left on the clock the Spireites put the final nail in Rotherham's coffin with their fourth and final goal of the game. A superb solo run from Granger was finished with an equally superb strike that ensured the Spireites would chase second place York City until the final day of the season.
Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Granger, Clare, Moller, Needham, Adcock (Edridge 70), Smith, Clay (Beaglehole 75), Watkis (Wright 60), Darikwa, Burrow
Subs Not Used: Waddle, West
Goals: Watkis 23, Darikwa 42, 66 Wright 87
