Spireites slip to defeat at Stockport

The Spireites’ six-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end after a 2-0 defeat to Stockport County at Edgeley Park.

James Rowe made three changes to the starting XI that beat Altrincham 1-0 on Tuesday with Joel Taylor, Gavin Gunning and Marcus Dinanga coming back into the line-up.

Alex Whittle, Liam Mandeville and Adi Yussuf dropped to the bench as the same team that started against Notts County last Saturday took to the field.

The hosts started with the majority of possession, pinning Chesterfield completely in the final third of the pitch.

However, Dinanga created the first effort of the game on the half-hour mark; the forward picked the ball up on the edge of the are before letting fly, but Ben easily saved the shot.

The chance seemed to bring a little life to the game. Tom Walker forced Grant Smith into a save at full-stretch from his 30-yard free-kick.

Just before the end of the first half, the Spireites almost nicked an opening goal. Akwasi Asante lifted the ball to the back post to George Carline and the wing-back sliced his shot towards the corner flag.

Joel Taylor picked the ball up by the corner flag and allowed Gunning to whip in a ball for Asante. The striker’s header fell into the arms of Hinchliffe and brought to an end the first period.

At the start of the second half, Chesterfield controlled more of the ball with chances again being few and far between.

The home side, however, took the lead on the hour-mark. Stockport were awarded a controversial throw, which John Rooney picked up and he lifted the ball over the defence for James Jennings to latch on to and slot past Smith at the near post.

The Blues looked to get back into the game and had a great chance from a set-piece. Gunning fizzed in a free-kick similar to his goal against Nott County, but the opposition defence did well to clear it.

With nine minutes to go, the hosts struck to double their lead. A cross was originally headed up into the air by Taylor, but the ball fell to Alex Reid, who hammered home from close-range.

Curtis Weston and Martin Smith both came close to pulling one back in added time, but the full time whistle sounded a few moments later.

Chesterfield: G. Smith, Carline, Evans ©, Hollis, Maguire, Taylor, Gunning (M. Smith 77), McCourt (Mandeville 68), Weston, Dinanga (Yussuf 77), Asante.

Unused Substitutes: Whittle, Clark.