Bim Pepple scored twice as Chesterfield beat second-placed Doncaster Rovers 5-2. Dylan Duffy, Michael Olakigbe and Ollie Banks were also on target with Luke Molyneux and Joe Ironside scoring for the visitors.
Paul Cook made one change from Chesterfield’s injury time defeat away to Cheltenham, with Paddy Madden replaced by Pepple up front. Michael Jacobs came in for John Fleck on the bench after the midfielder was taken ill in the warm-up.
High-flying Doncaster arrived having won their last four League Two games, as well as progressing to the FA Cup fourth round with a penalty shoot-out triumph over Championship Hull City.
The visitors started on the front foot, but it was the Spireites who took the lead after 11 minutes. Armando Dobra played Duffy in behind and the winger slammed a half-volley past Ted Sharman-Lowe from a narrow angle.
Jamie Sterry set up Rob Street, but the Doncaster striker fired over from inside the penalty area before Molyneux curled a shot wide.
A stop-start game proceeded as both sides tried to wrestle control of the contest.
Chesterfield doubled their lead in the 37th minute, Olakigbe found space in the area from Duffy’s free-kick, and his delivery was headed back across goal by Tom Naylor for Pepple to slot into an empty net.
The Spireites then had goalkeeper Max Thompson to thank for a remarkable trio of impressive saves to deny Molyneux from close range.
Olakigbe drew Chelsea loanee Sharman-Lowe into a sharp save down to his left, before Doncaster pulled a goal back in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time when Jamie Grimes’ tackle saw the ball fall kindly to Molyneux, who found the bottom corner.
Chesterfield began the second half well and were rewarded with a third goal after 54 minutes, Dobra’s vision setting up Olakigbe with a crossfield pass and the Brentford loanee becoming the third Spireites player on the night to score his first goal for the club.
Cook’s side made it 4-1 just five minutes later when Jack Sparkes drilled a low cross in from the left wing and Pepple was in the right place to complete his brace.
Both sides looked to their benches, with Liam Mandeville, Banks and Madden introduced for the Spireites and Doncaster making five changes at once with 20 minutes remaining. Dobra and Darren Oldaker then made way for Ryan Colclough and Jenson Metcalfe, Dobra having played a key role with two assists.
Chesterfield nearly found a fifth goal when Mandeville struck an effort narrowly wide, before Madden drove a shot into the hands of Sharman-Lowe.
Ryheem Sheckleford held firm to block Ethan Ennis’ powerful effort, before the experienced Billy Sharp missed the target from close range in the 90th minute.
Both sides would then score in the 94th minute, Ironside heading home for the visitors before Banks’ delicate chip over Sharman-Lowe made it 5-2.
The final whistle saw Chesterfield move above Grimsby into ninth ahead of the Spireites’ trip to league leaders Walsall next weekend.
Chesterfield: Thompson, Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes ©, Oldaker (Metcalfe 75), Williams, Dobra (Colclough 76), Duffy (Mandeville 58), Sparkes, Pepple (Madden 64), Olakigbe (Banks 63).
Unused substitutes: Boot, Jacobs.
Attendance: 8,707 (1,042)
