Liam Mandeville’s first-half goal gave the Spireites the lead at Crawley Town but they had to settle for a point after Jay Williams equalised deep into time added on to make it 1-1.
Armando Dobra and Will Grigg dropped out of the starting XI with Dylan Duffy and Lee Bonis, who returned from his one-match suspension, replacing them.
The two teams traded very similar efforts in the opening exchanges. Justin Ferizaj and Duffy both curled efforts the wrong side of the left-hand post.
Bonis came close to a 13th goal of the season, but his deft chip drifted wide of the far post.
Danilo Orsi looked to give his side the lead in the 12th minute with a low drive that was saved by the legs of Zach Hemming.
The Spireites were creating the better of the chances but were unable to convert them. Chey Dunkley and Dilan Markanday both saw golden chance slip just past the post.
However, Chesterfield would find the opening goal in the 39th minute. Mandeville picked the ball up on the edge of the area and powered his shot beyond Jacob Chapman, via a slight deflection.
The start to the second half failed to meet the pace of the first 45 minutes as both sides struggled to fashion many chances.
Paul Cook made a triple change ahead of the hour-mark with James Berry, Dobra and Grigg coming onto the pitch.
Soon after coming on, Grigg latched onto Tom Pearce’s free-kick, but could only glance his header inches wide of the mark.
Former Spireite Ronan Darcy had went close to scoring when his well-hit shot crashed against the crossbar and away from danger.
As Chesterfield hunted a second goal to kill the game off, Dobra and Pearce were denied at the last by Chapman.
With added time about up, a long cross into the penalty area was headed past Hemming by the head of Williams.
The result denies Chesterfield back-to-back wins but moves the unbeaten run to six games.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Curtis, Dunkley ©️, Swinkels, Pearce, Braybrooke, Stirk, Markanday (Naylor 76), Mandeville (Dobra 59), Duffy (Berry 59), Bonis (Grigg 59).
Unused substitutes: Donacien, McFadzean, Dickson.
