Chesterfield came away from Boundary Park with all three points after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Oldham Athletic, securing their second win of the season in Greater Manchester.
The Spireites had only managed a single point against Oldham last season, and their most recent win at Boundary Park had come back in 2022 with a 2-0 triumph courtesy of early strikes from Joe Quigley and Jeff King.
Paul Cook made three changes following the 3-3 draw with Barnet, bringing Kyle McFadzean, Lee Bonis and Josh Koroma into the starting line-up.
Chesterfield began steadily and earned two early corners through Dylan Markanday however, both resulted in a goal kick for Oldham.
The breakthrough arrived in the 18th minute when referee Matt Corlett pointed to the spot for a handball by the opposition. Lee Bonis’ penalty was saved by Mathew Hudson, but the striker reacted quickest and tucked home the rebound which gave the Spireites the lead.
Oldham looked to respond immediately, but Simpson headed the effort out for a corner.
A chance came for Oldham in the 25th minute where the ball fell to Drummond who crossed it in for Calum Kavanagh, Ryan Boot saved his shot with his feet, the rebound came quickly back to Kavanagh, but his second shot went wide.
Oldham continued to push forward, but play was eventually pulled back for a free kick, with Hutton shown a yellow card for the challenge. Moments later, as the Latics looked to break on the counter, Kyle McFadzean held back Fondop and the referee produced another yellow card.
Three minutes were added at the end of the first half. Chesterfield managed the tempo well, keeping possession and working an opening for Louie Marsh, whose effort was blocked before the referee brought the half to a close.
It had been a dominant first‑half display from the Spireites, who went into the break still searching for their second win of the season.
Then Spireites started brightly, with Louie Marsh forcing Hudson into an early save. However, Oldham found an equaliser soon after when a cross from the left was headed in by Favour Fawunmi.
Chesterfield looked to respond immediately with Koroma who drove down the left, carried the ball into the box and squared it across goal for Dilan Markanday, who calmly slotted the ball into the goal to restore the lead just two minutes after the equaliser.
Bonis continued to cause problems and won a free kick after being brought down by Delany, who received a yellow card. At the other end, Boot produced an outstanding close‑range save to deny Kane Drummond on the hour mark.
As Chesterfield looked to hold on to their lead, Tom Naylor came on in place of Ryan Stirk and took the armband. Marsh then slid an effort wide from a dangerous cross as the Spireites pushed for a third.
Oldham thought they had levelled when Fondop found the net, but the referee had already blown for handball.
Further changes followed for Chesterfield, with Mandeville replacing Marsh before Eccleston, Dyer and Randall entered the action on 80 minutes.
Oldham pushed for a late equaliser, with Fawunmi again testing Boot, who saved and gathered the rebound confidently. Six minutes were added on, but Chesterfield held firm. A long clearance from Boot found Bonis, who was brought down as the Spireites looked to run down the clock. Moments later, the referee signalled full time.
Chesterfield’s performance earned them a valuable 2-1 win, their second victory of the campaign and another memorable afternoon in Greater Manchester.
Chesterfield: Boot, Hutton (Eccleston 80), McFadzean, Simpson, Gordon, Stirk (Naylor 61), McEachran (Dyer 80), Markanday, Marsh (Mandeville 70), Koroma (Randall 81), Bonis
Attendance 8,083 including 1,137 Chesterfield supporters.
