The Spireites fired themselves back in the play-off places after a 4-1 victory against Newport County at the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Will Grigg, Will Dickson, Ronan Darcy and Dilan Markanday secured all three points for Chesterfield, despite Michael Spellman’s deflected strike giving the visitors momentary hope.
Paul Cook made four changes to the side that started in the 2-2 draw away at Bromley last Saturday.
Jamie Grimes, John Fleck, Will Dickson, and Devan Tanton all earned starting berths, with Grimes, Dickson, and Tanton making their first league starts of the season.
Both sides started quickly as Newport first had a chance through Cameron Antwi, whose backheeled effort was blocked.
Armando Dobra then had a golden opportunity for The Spireites; however, he could only find the side netting after rounding the goalkeeper.
Dobra was again involved with a whipped low cross, though Grigg couldn’t find the target with his effort.
Chesterfield again had a chance after a loose pass from Tom Davies, but Dickson’s driven strike skidded narrowly past the post.
In the 27th minute, the hosts launched a rapid counter-attack spearheaded by Grigg; however, Nik Tzanev was wise to the danger and stopped Dickson from having a clean run on goal.
With 34 minutes played, the Spireites took a deserved lead through Grigg.
Liam Mandeville’s floated cross found Grigg in space, and the Northern Irish forward nodded home from the centre of the box.
Moments later, the Spireites broke at pace in a three-on-one situation, with Grimes and Tanton leading the way, but the defensive duo failed to test Tzanev.
Though Chesterfield needn’t have worried, as they doubled their lead in the next attack.
Two minutes before the break, Dickson picked the ball up in his own half and drove forward, then fired in a confident finish to make it 2-0.
It was controlled start to the second half from the Spireites, with Paul Cook’s side content with keeping the ball in their own half.
On the hour mark, Chey Dunkley rose highest to direct a lobbed header goalward, but it landed just past the far post.
With 15 minutes to play, substitute Darcy found Dobra with a delicate through ball; however, the forward was hounded out by Newport defenders.
The visitors grabbed a goal back with 10 minutes to play when Spellman’s strike was deflected past the helpless Hemming.
Any Chesterfield concerns were quickly squashed with two quick-fire late goals from substitutes.
First, Darcy lofted a delicate finish over Tzanev to make it 3-1 in the 84th minute.
And four minutes later, Markanday added gloss to the scoreline with a drilled effort from close range to secure the 4-1 victory.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Tanton (Daley-Campbell 66), Dunkley, Grimes, Gordon, Fleck (Naylor 79), Stirk, Dickson (Darcy 66), Dobra, Mandeville (Bonis 66), Grigg (Markanday 66)
Attendance: 7,726
