Home victory for Spireites

Akwasi Asante’s eighth goal for the club gave the Spireires a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Altrincham at the Technique Stadium.

James Rowe made three changes from the weekend with Adi Yussuf getting his first start for the club, replacing Marcus Dinanga.

Alex Whittle and Liam Mandeville returned to the starting XI as Joel Taylor and Gavin Gunning dropped to the bench.

Chesterfield started brightly; Laurence Maguire picked the ball up on the halfway line early on before unleashing a 35-yard effort that whistled just wide of the post.

Jak McCourt found himself in a similar position a minute later. The midfielder’s rocket of a shot flew past the post and hit the stanchion behind the goal.

The visitors soon responded with chances of their own. Yusifu Ceesay managed to turn past Will Evans in the box and his shot was well-saved by Grant Smith.

Altrincham’s number 11 found a way into the penalty area again in the 15th minute. His low strike was once again thwarted by the feet of Smith.

The Spireites almost got their noses in front ten minutes later. George Carline latched onto McCourt’s low cross, but his effort went agonisingly wide.

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first period and the away side ended the half as the better side.

The Blues came out swinging in the opening exchanges of the second half and took the lead in the 49th minute. Maguire ventured forward and whipped in a cross for Asante to prod home from close range.

Despite the goal, the visitors continued to threaten in attack. Matty Kosylo looked to twist and turn before shooting at goal, but Haydn Hollis made a fantastic challenge to win the ball.

With 15 minutes left, Ceesay won his side a penalty. He rounded and then taken down by Smith; the keeper redeemed himself soon after palming Joe Piggott’s spot kick away.

Smith was yet again the saviour when Toby Mullarkey rose highest to nod on from a free-kick. The shot-stopper managed to extremely well to hold the ball.

Chesterfield continued to halt several Altrincham attacks and came away with yet another hard-earned 1-0 win.

Chesterfield: G Smith, Carline, Evans (C), Hollis, Maguire, Whittle (Taylor 61), McCourt, Weston, Mandeville (Clarke 77), Asante, Yussuf (Dinanga 55).

Unused Substitutes: Gunning & M Smith