The Spireites had to settle for a point after a hard-fought 2-2 against Rochdale at the SMH Group Stadium.
Early second-half goals from Tom Naylor and Will Grigg gave the Spireites the lead, but Rochdale managed to claw two goals back to rescue a point.
Rochdale went close in the opening minutes when Devante Rodney latched onto a ball over the top of the Spireite’s defence, but Harry Tyrer was quick to come out and block the shot.
Former Spireite Kairo Mitchell went close for Rochdale when he tried to dink the ball over the top of Tyrer, following a ball over the top. But Tyrer managed to get a touch on the ball to move it away from goal.
Despite Rochdale’s early chances, the Spireites still managed to put them under pressure but struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
Grigg managed to get a headed effort towards goal, following a cross from the right-hand side, but his header was caught by Tiernan Brooks.
The Spireites took the lead in the 47th minute through Naylor, whose header, following a cross from the left-hand side, looped over the defence, and hit a post as it went into the back of the net.
Grigg doubled the Spireites’ lead in the 63rd minute when he latched into an Ollie Banks cross from the right-hand side, sliding in at the back post to knock the ball in.
Rochdale pulled a goal back in the 69th minute through D’Mani Mellor. Mitchell lacked onto a good through ball and forced a good save from Tyrer, but Mellor was there to tap in the rebound.
Liam Mandeville had a chance to reinstate the Spireites’ two two-goal lead with a volleyed effort from around 12 yards out.
Soon after, Rochdale levelled when Rodney received the ball just inside of the box, got it under control and struck it into the top left corner in the 80th minute.
The Spireites came agonisingly close to regaining the lead when Armando Dobra had a shot blocked inside the penalty area.
After this result, attention will now turn to next Tuesday’s away trip to Barnet.
Spireites: Tyrer, Sheckleford, Williams, Grimes ©, Horton, Oldaker (Jones 83’), Naylor, Mandeville (Jacobs 88’), Banks, Dobra, Grigg (Quigley 83’)
Unused subs: Palmer, Hobson
Attendance: 8,301 (423 away)
