Jim Kellermann’s fine strike just before the break gave the Spireites a 1-0 victory over Yeovil Town to seal Paul Cook’s first win in his second spell at the club.
Jeff King was brought back into the side following his three-game suspension as he replaced Tyrone Williams.
The early exchanges were full off scrappy football with neither side gaining a strong foothold in the match. Charlie Wakefield almost scored the opening goal that followed that fashion; his header lobbed an out-rushing Scott Loach, but Jeff King was there to clear.
Akwasi Asante almost pulled of a piece of magic after 11 minutes when he entered the penalty area on the right-hand side and flashed a shot just wide of Grant Smith’s goal.
Yeovil really should have taken the lead soon after. Jordan Barnett’s free-kick perfectly found Luke Wilkinson but the defender saw his header tipped over the bar by Loach.
The goalkeepers were pulling out all of the stops to keep the scores level; Smith used all of his height to get his fingertips to a dangerous Laurence Maguire header.
Tom Knowles was proving to be Yeovil’s dangerman and was unlucky to see two efforts not fin the back of the net as the break approached. The first whistled wide of the net and the second crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
With just one minute of added time at the end of the half, Kellermann pulled a rabbit out of the hat to give Chesterfield the lead. He calmly controlled a clearance before sending his half-volley flying past Smith.
The second period continued the theme of scrappy football with neither side looking especially potent going towards goal.
Luke Wilkinson looked to drag his side back onto level terms with a perfectly placed free-kick. The only problem was that it crashed into the side-netting beside it.
Adi Yussuf almost pulled the visitors level just before the hour-mark. He latched onto a long throw but couldn’t find the correct contact on his shot and Loach eventually clawed the ball off the line.
The Spireites were more than happy to keep possession and stop their opponents from travelling towards Loach’s goal and were rewarded with a first win under Paul Cook.
Chesterfield: Loach; King, Grimes, Whittle; Kellermann, Whelan; Mandeville, Asante (Khan 88), Miller; Quigley (Denton 68).
Unused Substitutes: Kerr, Williams, Rowley.
