The Spireites exit the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle, losing by 1-0 after a goal from Ched Evans. despite having plenty of the ball against a Fleetwood side who defended well and in numbers.
Kane Thompson-Summers set the game in motion for the home side but the Spireites soon had possession and a strong burst down the right from Dilan Markanday saw him cross well into the area but no blue shirt was close enough to connect.
Fleetwood won two corners on the left, both taken by Harrison Neal, in quick succession but produced no threat and ended with a clean catch from Ryan Boot.
Ex-Spireite Evans put the home side ahead in the 14th minute after a goalkeeping error. Boot assumed the ball would run to him, it didn’t and Evans nipped in to slot home from a tight angle.
A looping ball from Josh Koroma found a surrounded Markanday who could only win a corner kick.
Immediately Chesterfield pushed forward again and Ruel Sotiriou hit well from the edge of the area but the ball was rising and flew over the crossbar.
The Spireites stepped up another gear and a long-throw from new signing Remeao Hutton created danger and two further corners before Bonis volleyed over.
A whipped-in ball from Fleetwood’s Shaun Rooney on the right saw Koroma happy to concede a corner that came to nothing.
Raff Cirino ran powerfully down the right and continued into the area; his subsequent shot was well held by Boot.
Just one minute was added at the end of a scrappy half that neither side had bossed but the hosts had grabbed the edge at the break.
Sotiriou got the game back underway as the Spireites kicked towards their travelling supporters.
A three-man move saw Sotiriou, Bonis and Koroma combine with latter forcing Lynch into a low-down close-range save. Moments later Sotiriou floated over a great cross into the area; Bonis’ header clattered the cross-bar and dropped back into play but the moment had gone.
The Spireites were looking livelier; a great three-man move set up Koroma but he was crowded out in the area.
Thompson-Sommers picked up the game’s first yellow card on the hour mark, after showing unnecessary petulance.
Koroma looked to have been fouled on the edge of Fleetwood’s area, instead the referee brandished a yellow card for simulation.
Sotiriou provided a superb ball for Koroma but his hit wayward and over.
Paul Cook made a double change after 69 minutes. Liam Mandeville and Fraser Bryden replaced Sotiriou and Bonis.
The Spireites won another but before it could be taken a third change was made as Danny Anisjko made his debut, taking over from Koroma.
Lots of pressure from the Spireites but little serious threat with players crowded out effectively.
Tom Naylor took over from Lewis Gordon after 84 minutes with the aim of bringing more direct threat to proceedings.
The home side almost doubled their advantage but Lewis McCann was unable to better direct his header from the edge of the area.
Three added minutes were awarded and a super run from Markanday brought another corner; from the break Cirino and Rooney combined well and looked certain to add a second to Fleetwood’s tally. At the death the ball ran to safety and there wasn’t enough time for another Chesterfield challenge.
Chesterfield: Boot, Hutton, McFadzean (C), Simpson, Gordon (Naylor 84), Stirk, McEachran, Markanday, Sotirioiu (Mandeville 69), Koroma (Anisjko 76), Bonis (Bryden 69)
Sotiriou
Substitutes not used: Sissons (GK), Owolabi-Belewu, Pond, Butterfield, Eccleston
Referee: Martin Coy
Attendance: 1619 including 579 Chesterfield supporters
