A defiant Darlington performance all but ended Chesterfield's chances of securing the runners up spot and wrecked the Spireites' recent run of good form in their penultimate match of the season.

Dave Bentley was unfortunate to have skipper Craig Clay missing from the starting eleven yesterday due to a minor ankle injury. Sam Clare took the captain's arm band in Clay's absence, as Shamus Beaglehole started for just the second time this season.

Just days after putting four past Rotherham United at the same ground, Chesterfield were hoping for a repeat performance against the side that were defeated prior to the Christmas break.

Darlington, despite their mislaid league position, have always proved to be a team more than capable of beating the top four on their day…as this appeared to be one of those days.

The visitors started the better and were soon off the mark after a poor defensive clearance was met by the Darlington forward with a volley that beat the fully stretched Scott Webb just 10 minutes into the match.

This lead could have quite easily been extended further as the Quakers had chances to expand Chesterfield's deficit. Poor defending was again the culprit as a number of close range efforts failed to hit the target.

It was hard to believe that Chesterfield were third in the League as the majority of the match was being played in the Spireites half. Not being allowed time on the ball, Bentley's side struggled to find any rhythm and rare attacks soon fizzled out before reaching the final third.

However, the Spireites did finally manage to find the Darlington goal on 27 minutes, but Sam Smith's shot was easily dealt with by the Darlo number one. Having skilfully taken on two opposing players, Tendayi Darikwa proceeded to deliver a decent cross to the clever winger, who hounded in on goal, but his shot lacked any real threat for the visitors.

This move seemed to be the start of a more positive Chesterfield revival. Beaglehole came closet to levelling the match up before half time. Ryan Granger's throw in on the left picked out the midfielder, who turned his marker. After a quick glance up, Beaglehole cheekily attempted a 30-yard chip that almost caught the goalkeeper off guard as he pushed the chance over the bar for a corner.

Unfortunately it was the visitors that went into the break with the advantage. Bentley was forced into a tactical half-time team change, as the defensive partnership of Sandy Moller and Sam Clare were replaced by Gerome Palmer and Jordan Edridge.

The second half began in promising fashion for the Spireites as BenWatkis found himself in space in the Darlington penalty box, but cruelly slipped before fully connecting with the ball after a neat flick over his marker.

Unfortunately Chesterfield were punished for their failure to capitalise just five minutes into the restart. An impressive run through the heart of the Chesterfield defence was finished with a cross to a Darlo attacker, whose free header went over the stranded Webb and into the back of the net.

This promising start by the Spireites seemed to be deflating rapidly. In an attempt to add more attacking flair to the game, Bentley introduced under 16's Jack Waddle as his third and final substitute of the match.

Despite this, Chesterfield failed to ever really materialise any real clean-cut attempts on goal, as the visitors' defence looked defiant to crack under the slight moments of pressure the Spireites could produce.

A disappointing 90 minutes for Chesterfield, who play their last League match of the season on Tuesday against Doncaster Rovers at Warminster Road.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Webb, Granger, Moller (Edridge 46), Needham, Clare (Palmer 46), Beaglehole (Waddle 55), Adcock, Smith, Watkis, Darikwa, Burrow

Subs Not Used: West, Wright

Spireites reporting team Adam Hulme and Phil Oddy