The Spireites extended their winning run with a confident 2-0 victory over York City at the SMH Group Stadium.
Paul Cook reverted to the 11 that secured last Saturday’s impressive win away at Oldham, making several changes from the midweek EFL Trophy victory, a thrilling 5-3 success against Manchester City U21s. York City arrived in Derbyshire with two familiar faces in their line‑up, as former Spireites Ollie Banks and Jeff King both returned to their old home ground.
Chesterfield started brightly in the early openings of this fixture. Lee Bonis was brought down right on the edge of the box, earning a free kick after the referee Benjamin Speedie halted play for the foul.
Soon after, Dilan Markanday pressed well to win the ball high up the pitch and slipped it through to Bonis on the penalty spot, but the striker lifted his effort over the bar.
The Spireites continued to push forward with intent. Josh Koroma advanced down the left and forced a defender into a quick clearance, winning a corner as the pressure built.
York City responded with a dangerous spell of their own when Jeff King’s powerful strike crashed off the inside of the crossbar. The rebound fell to Ollie Banks, who attempted an overhead kick, but it drifted wide.
Chesterfield remained lively in attack. A well‑delivered cross from Lewis Gordon on the left found Louie Marsh, whose low effort was gathered by goalkeeper Alfie McNally. York threatened again moments later as Banks found space and fired it narrowly past the post.
From Ryan Boot’s long goal kick, the Spireites moved the ball quickly into the York area. Marsh collected inside the box, but his shot took a deflection and went behind for a corner. Koroma then combined neatly with Marsh, whose driven effort towards the near post was pushed away by McNally.
Before the break, Markanday produced another dangerous moment, bursting down the right and cutting into the box. His strike was deflected behind, earning Chesterfield yet another corner as their first‑half pressure continued to mount.
Chesterfield looked to begin the second half on the front foot. Josh Koroma immediately applied pressure to goalkeeper Alfie McNally, blocking his clearance and forcing a loose ball to fall for Dilan Markanday, who’s right‑footed effort from the edge of the box went wide of the target.
The Spireites came even closer moments later. Remeao Hutton threaded a superb pass through to Louie Marsh, who found himself in space. His strike beat McNally but bounced back off the post.
Chesterfield’s persistence soon paid off as George McEachran slipped the ball into Lee Bonis, who hammered his finish into the top corner to take the lead with a clinical, well‑worked goal.
Hutton continued to influence the game, launching a long throw into the box that was headed behind for a corner. From the delivery, McEachran rose at the far post, but his header was comfortably held by McNally.
York City made their first change as Jeff King was replaced, receiving warm applause from all four sides of the SMH Group Stadium as he made his way around to the dugout.
Chesterfield’s attacking play remained sharp. Bonis drove down the right and combined with Hutton, who swivelled and fed Markanday, but his shot was deflected behind for another corner. The Spireites continued to dominate possession, with Marsh forcing McNally into further action.
On 70 minutes, Paul Cook introduced fresh legs with a triple substitution: Kiano Dyer, Liam Mandeville, and Joel Randall replaced McEachran, Koroma, and Marsh. Chesterfield almost added another soon after when Lewis Gordon crossed for Markanday, whose strike rattled the post.
Dyer was then brought down by Ollie Banks, earning the York midfielder a yellow card.
Bonis continued to threaten, striking the crossbar with another powerful effort as Chesterfield pushed for a second.
Moments later, Bonis and Mandeville combined neatly on the edge of the box before slipping the ball to Randall, who attempted to lift it over McNally, but the keeper gathered well.
The goalscorer, Bonis, then made way for Fraser Bryden as Cook continued to rotate his side.
York City carved out a late chance when Ollie Pearce broke beyond Ryan Boot, but the Spireites recovered quickly to clear the danger.
Chesterfield sealed the victory in style. Dilan Markanday picked up the ball in his own half, surged past multiple defenders, and carried it all the way into the box before finishing confidently to secure the Spireites’ second goal of the afternoon and cap off a dominant performance.
The Spireites attention will turn back to the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night with a visit from Port Vale.
Attendance: 8,637 which included 1,046 away supporters.
Boot, McFadzean, Simpson, Stirk, Bonis (Bryden), Marsh (Mandeville 71), Gordon (Pearce 85), McEachran (Dyer 70), Markanday, Hutton, Koroma (Randall 71)
