Chesterfield failed to make it to the first round of the FA cup after a 4-0 defeat at Stockport County in the replayed qualifying tie.
The Spireites played in all red and lined up with captain Will Evans, Laurence Maguire and Jamie Sharman making up the defensive line. Milan Butterfield and Curtis Weston lined up centrally with David Buchanan on the left, Alex Kiwomya wide right and Tom Denton, Nathan Tyson and Luke Rawson up front.
County scored with an overhead kick from Richard Bennet after only three minutes. Rooney had a free shot well saved by Kyle Letheren but the rebound was tucked away in spectacular fashion by the County striker.
Chesterfield moved the ball well and put the home side under first-half pressure without creating a clear chance in the first ten minutes.
On 15 minutes, Nathan Tyson suffered a stamp his on foot whilst battling down the left and went off the pitch to receive attention.
Rooney had a shot well saved by Letheren as Tyson limped round the field. The Blues played on with ten men before Jonathan Smith came on to replace the front man. Smith slotted into midfield just behind the front two of Denton and Rawson.
Letheren had to be at his best to save again from Bennett as County broke through on the Chesterfield right side.
Connor Jennings was causing most of the problems and County nearly scored again after a scramble.
Jennings had the ball in the net after a breakaway but the flag was up for offside.
Buchanan could have equalised when he was clean through on the County keeper after nice work from Rawson and Denton but the ball went wide.
Smith committed a foul to stop County from breaking and received a yellow card.
Alex Reid made it two for the home side after 35 minutes, getting clear of the Chesterfield back line and after a flick on header from Bennett, the home number 19 gave Letheren no chance with a left-footed finish.
Kiwomya broke down the right but was crowded out on and Chesterfield were still battling but had only made one real chance at this stage of the game.
After Evans fouled Bennett, Letheren saved well from Rooney’s subsequent free kick
County continued to make the better of the play and Letheren again had to save well from a cross. Bennett and Reid were pressing well for the home side and despite Chesterfield trying to play out from the back, the Spireites found themselves under pressure.
John Pemberton made a change as Scott Boden replaced Kiwomya at half time.
County had the first chance of the second half with Jennings blazing over from a cross.
Letheren was bundled over by Crosdale as Stockport again broke through Chesterfield’s defence and County striker Reid also had to go off for attention. Letheren was visibly limping after the incident and substitute keeper Dylan Wharton was soon warming up.
The home side won quick corners with Liam Hogan heading over after the second on 56th minute.
Chesterfield continued with three up top but chances were few and far between.
Boden broke through and hit the side netting soon afterwards as Chesterfield tried to get back into it.
Weston tried his luck on 62 but was well wide with a long-range effort and a minute later, Rawson created an excellent chance for himself which was well saved by Hinchcliffe.
A minute later Maguire was booked for an innocuous challenge despite the Blues winning the free kick.
A corner came in, players challenged and the referee awarded a penalty to Stockport, following an adjudged handball by Denton. Rooney (71) converted the subsequent spot kick, leaving it 3-0 to the home side.
Smith crossed and Rawson sneaked in at the back of the County defence but scuffed his shot.
Both teams were working hard County broke away after intercepting a pass and Evans tripped the tricky Reid for the home side’s second penalty of the game. Rooney blasted into the top corner from the spot to make it 4-0.
After a brief period of pressure Tyler Denton tried his luck but it was neither a cross or a shot in the end.
Spireites: Letheren, Buchanan, Evans, Maguire, Weston, Kiwomya (Boden 45), Butterfield, Tyson, Sharman, Tom Denton (Tyler Denton 80), Rawson
