The Spireites won their final pre-season fixture, beating Boston United 2-0.
Paul Cook named an unchanged starting XI following Saturday’s 3-0 win against Bradford City at the Technique Stadium and the 2-0 win against Matlock Town earlier in pre-season.
However, the big news was the introduction of Kabongo Tshimanga, who was back on the bench after his long-term injury last season. New signing Jesurun Uchegbolam was also named as a substitute.
Chesterfield’s first chance came through Joe Quigley from the edge of the area, however his left-footed effort sailed past Rhys Davies’ left hand post.
The Blues had a dominant spell early on as Armando Dobra slipped through Akwasi Asante whose shot was blocked by the onrushing Davies in the Boston goal.
Boston were awarded a soft free-kick for a push on Jaanai Gordon by Jamie Grimes which was delivered by Alex Brown and it reached the skipper Luck Shiels who forced Lucas Covolan into two scrambling saves after he misjudged the initial cross
A good Boston build up led to a shot from Gordon after Scott Pollock drove at the Chesterfield defence, straight at Covolan.
Chesterfield were awarded a free-kick after Quigley won ball back on the left and Dobra evaded multiple challenges but was eventually fouled 25 yards out from goal.
The free-kick taken by Jeff King beat Davies but his effort struck the crossbar,
Another King free-kick was whipped in from the right and Jamie Grimes won the header which fell to Ollie Banks whose tame effort was blocked
Covolan’s long ball up field to Quigley who was forced wide and he passed to Asante who made a good save.
Pollock drove at the Chesterfield defence and played it wide to Gordon who fizzed a cross in low and Alex Brown slid in at back post but put it just wide of Covolan’s goal.
The opening chance of the second half fell to Liam Mandeville who played a pass out to the right-hand side for King, whose cross just beat Quigley in the area. The ball was poorly cleared to Mandeville again who struck the base of the post on the half-volley.
Chesterfield opened the scoring in the 54th minute via a King corner which was whipped into the near post and volleyed past Davies by Grimes, who was poorly marked by the Boston defence.
Mandeville switched the play to the left to Dobra who cut in on his right foot and his effort was straight at Davies who held the shot comfortably.
Another chance immediately after came from Mandeville’s cross to Banks whose volleyed effort was again comfortably saved by Davies
Two Chesterfield substitutions in the form of George Cooper who replaced Dobra and Michael Gyasi who replaced Quigley in the 74th minute.
Chesterfield doubled their lead in the 78th minute as Banks’ long-range effort was saved but it fell to Gyasi who was calm and composed as he took a touch and slotted the ball past Davies.
Another chance for Chesterfield came as a ball over the top beat the Boston backline and found Cooper but a fantastic last-ditch challenge denied him.
Six Chesterfield substitutions came in the 84th minute as Ryheem Sheckleford, Joe Cook, Bailey Clements, Trialist, Tom Whelan and Uchegbulam replaced King, Tyrone Williams, Branden Horton, Asante, Banks and Darren Oldaker.
Cooper had two quick chances from the edge of the box on his left foot, the first was saved comfortably and the other went just past the left post.
Chesterfield made another substitution which saw Grimes replaced by Laurence Maguire in the 86th minute.
Chesterfield made yet another substitution in the 87th minute which sa Tshimanga replace Mandeville, which was met with huge cheers from the away end for the striker.
The Spireites now prepare for the opening day of the National League season with a trip to Dorking Wanderers.
Chesterfield: Covolan, King (Sheckleford 84’), Williams (Cook 84’), Grimes (Maguire 86’), Horton (Clements 84’), Banks (Trialist 84’), Oldaker (Whelan 84’), Mandeville (Tshimanga 87’), Dobra (Cooper 74’), Asante (Uchegulam 84’), Quigley (Gyasi 74’)
