The Spireites suffered late heartbreak at Altrincham on Tuesday evening, losing 3-2 after taking an early lead.
Chesterfield lined-up with new loanee goalkeeper Corey Addai from Barnsley between the sticks.
The three at the back were Will Evans, Laurence Maguire and Josef Yarney. Jordan Cropper and David Buchanan started as wing backs; the midfield was made up of Milan Butterfield, Curtis Weston and Jonathan Smith, with Tom Denton and Scott Boden up front.
Maguire headed over after a free kick by Buchanan in the early stages, Alty went straight down the other end and Josh Hancock had his shot blocked by Maguire who was again in the action.
Three throw-ins from Jordan Cropper caused problems for the home side but Denton ended up offside from the third of them
Cropper’s next long throw was met by Denton who forced Thompson into a good save.
A nice move by Yarney and Cropper forced a right-sided corner, which was taken by Buchanan and caused problems for the home defence.
It was end to end as Hancock burst through the Blues’ defence and a last-minute block sent the ball out for a home corner.
After 13 minutes, Scott Boden headed in after a good cross from Buchanan and peristence from Denton with Smith heading the ball into the danger area for Boden to score.
Jordan Cropper down the right was causing most of the problems for the home side with his throws and crosses doing damage.
Josef Yarney’s pace was helping the defence cover any raids, especially from the dangerous Kosylo and Hancock.
Nice work by Yarney put the home side under pressure and Smith shot wide just after the half-hour mark. Yarney and Cropper were looking most likely down the right for the Blues.
On 29 minutes it all went wrong with a long ball for the Altrincham keeper going to Kosylo, who beat Maguire and slipped it to Adarabioyo who scored with ease.
Smith almost replied minutes later by nearly firing in with a long shot which was deflected wide for a corner, Evans headed wide from the subsequent flag kick.
Cropper did great work down the right and Denton headed goalwards, only for a defender to head it off the line.
Adarabioyo had Evans in trouble just before half time but the skipper managed to hack away for a corner which was headed wide by Sass-Davies.
Cropper again caused problems with a long throw followed by a cross for Denton which was knocked out for a corner.
The second half began with new keeper Addai having to clear his lines coming out to stop a though ball.
At the other end, Smith hit the underside of the bar and the ball came agonisingly close to crossing the line. It looked certain that it would end up in the net but it just wasn’t to be.
The ball again fell to Smith whose shot was deflected wide. Yarney and Cropper were working well again and forced another long throw which fell agonisingly wide from a defender’s header.
Cropper picked up an injury which he managed to run off after a challenge with Kosylo.
The second half was following the pattern of the first in the earlier stages with the Blues pressuring and the home side making quick breaks. Dales was fouled by Yarney who got a yellow from the ref on 61 minutes.
On 62, it was a penalty for Altrincham after Weston stuck his leg out and tripped an onrushing midfielder and the number 10 for Altrincham, Hancock, took the kick to put the Robins into the lead with a low effort to his left.
Cropper immediately equalised on 63 with a great strike from the right of the box after the ball was shuttled across to him after good work from Boden.
Denton almost restored the lead on 69 after great work and a good cross by Cropper, Thompson in the home goal saving one-handed.
Altrincham soon got back onto the action with Smith shooting wide after Chesterfield’s midfield sat back and allowed him the opportunity.
A double save from Thompson denied the Spireites after Butterfield robbed the home side and broke through to shoot. Denton could have finished it off but his snap shot went over.
Moments later Denton headed goalwards and forced another save but the big man was adjudged to have fouled in making his jump.
Joe Rowley was sent on for Smith and with five minutes left, Luke Rawson came on for Boden.
Rawson and Rowley combined to make a chance which was snuffed out just when it looked like the winner could be there.
With one minute to go, Altrincham scored with no pressure on the ball from the Blues allowing a through ball to Hancock to slide home the decisive goal for 3-2.
Tyler Denton came on for Buchanan as a last throw of the dice.
Will Evans had a left-footed shot go wide well into time added on.
Spireites: Addai, Yarney, Evans, Maguire, Cropper, Buchanan (Tyler Denton 89), Butterfield, Smith (Rowley 84), Weston, Tom Denton, Boden (Rawson 85)
Subs: Wharton (gk) Hollis, Tyler Denton, Rowley, Rawson.
