The Spireites returned to the SMH Group Stadium with a convincing 5-0 victory against League One outfit Burton Albion, thanks to goals from Will Grigg (2), Ryan Colclough, Lee Bonis and Adam Lewis.
Fabio Tavares had a golden opportunity to put the Brewers ahead after just two minutes, after latching onto a long ball, but his half-volley was saved by a strong hand from Ryan Boot.
Chesterfield’s first shot on goal came through Grigg in the 15th minute. Good link up between Gunner Elliott and Grigg led to the latter’s effort from range which was saved comfortably.
The Spireites were awarded a penalty just past the half-an-hour mark after John Fleck played through Colclough, who had his ankle clipped to give referee Jamie O’Connor a simple decision to make.
Grigg confidently stepped up to take the 32nd spot-kick and slotted home, into the bottom-left corner, to break the deadlock.
Chesterfield doubled their advantage in a flash as Grigg got his brace, in the 35th minute, after Colclough cut back from the by-line for Grigg to smash past substitute keeper Harry Isted first-time.
If it was not for Isted’s save at full stretch, just two minutes after the second goal, Grigg would have had a hat-trick after heading Gordon’s cross goalward.
Colclough rounded off Chesterfield’s impressive and dominant 15 minutes at the end of the first-half with a curling free-kick to extend the lead to 3-0, despite Isted getting a big touch but failed to turn the effort past the post.
The Spireites led 3-0 at the break after a quick flurry of goals in the latter stages of the first-half.
There were two chances in the opening five minutes of the second half. The first came through Armando Dobra from close range but a block sent the chance wide and the second from Lewis from range, parried away by Isted.
It was a dream debut for Bonis who scored one of the easiest goals of his career after chasing down Isted and the keeper’s clearance struck the new Spireites forward and trickled into the back of the net to put the Spireites 4-0 up.
Isted was replaced by Kamil Dudek in the Burton goal and made two important stops immediately. Connor Cook had the first opportunity followed by Ryan Stirk and both were prevented from scoring by Dudek’s strong blocks.
Lewis scored his first Spireites goal in the 64thminute. Bonis on the right-wing, received the ball from Lewis and cut back to the defender who finishes off the move he started, calmly slotting into the bottom-left corner.
In the 90th minute, Dylan Duffy drove at the Brewers’ defence and laid off to Dobra to cut in and shoot. The effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by Dudek before the final whistle concluded the ruthless Spireites performance.
The Spireites will now look forward to welcoming Premier League side Nottingham Forest to the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday (2pm), in the Spireites’ third pre-season friendly.
First-half starting XI: Boot, Jessop, McFadzean, Gordon, Fleck, Hobson, Trialist, Colclough, Elliott, Grigg.
Second-half starting XI: Hemming, Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes, Lewis, Dibley-Dias, Stirk, Cook, Dobra, Duffy, Bonis.
Attendance: 2,295 (216 away)
