Evie Carter’s first-half strike proved the difference as Chesterfield FC Women battled to a 1-0 victory away at Gainsborough on Sunday afternoon.
The win ensured the Spireites maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the table, with Pete Jarvis’ side having only three more league games left to play.
After last week’s 22-0 rout in the League Cup, it quickly became apparent that a much sterner test awaited Chesterfield today.
The hosts started on the front foot, launching a stream of attacks down the right wing, though they couldn’t deliver into the area.
Once the brief storm was weathered, Chesterfield began to find their rhythm and opened the scoring in the eighth minute.
It was smart interplay between Sophie Marshall and Elin Morin, with the latter squaring the ball to Carter, who coolly swept home her 16th goal of the campaign.
Buoyed by the goal, it seemed only a matter of time before the Spireites grabbed a second.
Chances for Marshall, Carter, Morin, and Sophie Bain all followed, but to no avail as the Gainsborough rearguard stood firm.
In the 37th minute, it looked as though Chesterfield did have their second when Bain produced a tidy finish from close range, only for the linesman’s flag to cut the celebrations short.
On the cusp of half-time, Gainsborough had an effort from 30 yards out which was well watched by Paige Johnson as the shot-stopper parried the ball to safety.
After the break, it was more of the same from Chesterfield, who dominated the early opportunities.
First, Marshall couldn’t connect cleanly with Morin’s squared pass, then Abbie Staples stinging volley missed the target by mere inches.
Gainsborough again issued a response on the hour mark with another effort from distance, which required an acrobatic save from Johnson to tip it onto the bar.
Second-half substitute Romy Sheppard almost had an immediate impact off the bench when she fired her strike against the post.
It was a nervy ending for the Spireites despite Gainsborough not posing much of an attacking threat.
And in stoppage time, there was a golden opportunity to put the game to bed when the referee pointed to the spot after a foul on Morin.
However, the skipper, Millie Standen, saw her penalty cannon off the base of a post, keeping the scoreline at 1-0.
Ultimately, the miss was inconsequential as the referee called time on the game shortly after, and Pete Jarvis breathed a sigh of relief.
Up next for Chesterfield is a home league game against SJR Worksop on February 8.
