The Spireites couldn’t find a way to break down Dover but extended their unbeaten start to the season following a goal-less draw.
James Rowe made four changes to the side that drew with Bromley last Saturday, with Fraser Kerr, Jak McCourt, Manny Oyeleke and Liam Mandeville coming into the starting XI.
The first chance of the game fell to the Spireites, when Kabongo Tshimanga got on the end of McCourt’s cross and played the ball to Danny Rowe on the edge of the area, but he could only shoot wide.
Dover then started to put pressure on Chesterfield when Aaron Cosgrave fired an effort towards goal from the edge of the area, which Scott Loach had to parry away.
Dover continued to pile the pressure on Chesterfield and appealed for a penalty after Cosgrave’s shot was blocked by McCourt – which they claimed was handball – but the referee waved play on.
Gaving Gunning then went close with an effort from a corner in the 25th minute but could only direct his header wide.
Tshimanga nearly broke the deadlock just before half-time. McCourt broke from inside his own half and drove forward, eventually playing the ball to Tshimanga on the edge of the area, whose shot was only kept out due to a great save from Josh Bexon.Â
The Spireites started second half quickly, when Calvin Miller whipped the ball across the box, but Tshimanga just couldn’t get on the end of it to poke home.
Mandeville went close in the 60th minute, when his shot creped just over the crossbar from around seven yards out, after some great link-up play between Tshimanga and Rowe.
Laurence Maguire was forced off with an injury in the 71stminute, after landing awkwardly on his ankle.
The game fizzled out from then on and there were no real chances of note, as both teams struggled to keep possession or create anything.
Dover pushed for a winner in the dying seconds, but couldn’t find a way through the Blues.
The referee then blew his whistle to bring the match to a close, as the game finished goalless.
Starting XI: Loach, Miller, Maguire (Grimes 71), Gunning, Kerr, Carline, McCourt (Weston 51), Oyeleke, Mandeville(Khan 78), Rowe, Tshimanga
Unused subs: King, Payne
