Chesterfield had to settle for a point as they drew 1-1 with Tranmere Rovers side on Saturday afternoon.
Despite taking a first-half lead through Tom Naylor, Chesterfield were pegged back after the break through Sam Finley and ultimately couldn’t find a winner.
The point keeps the Blues in the play-off places but further increases the importance of Tuesday night’s home clash against eighth-placed Grimsby.
Paul Cook made three changes to the side that beat Barrow 1-0 on Easter Monday, with Lee Bonis, Armando Dobra and Dilan Markanday all awarded starting berths. There was also a place on the bench for 17-year-old Maltese forward Gunner Elliott.
It was a lively start from the Spireites who looked to press the opposition from the first whistle.
But it was the visitors with the game’s first big chance as Kaiyne Woolery looked certain to score from four yards out, but his swept finish rolled past the post.
Again, Rovers came close, this time through Patrick Brough, who forced a smart low stop from Ryan Boot.
Then, with the next attack, Tranmere were awarded a penalty after Kyle McFadzean was adjudged to have pulled down Zech Obiero.
However, much to the relief of the home crowd, Boot produced a fantastic stop to deny Omari Patrick from the spot.
The game continued at a frenetic pace as Chesterfield launched a counter-attack, with Dobra’s goal-bound effort well blocked.
After surviving the Tranmere onslaught, Chesterfield regained control of the contest but struggled to find the final ball to test Marko Marosi.
Until the 44th minute, when Naylor flicked the Spireites into the lead.
James Berry’s whipped cross was met by the midfielder, whose clever header flew past Marosi to make it 1-0.
Dobra almost made it two moments later, but his strike was palmed away by the keeper.
After the break, Tranmere levelled things up.
Brough’s low cross was converted from close range by Finley with 53 minutes played.
It was Tranmere who continued to create the better chances after the goal, with the game hanging in the balance.
Sam Curtis burst down the line with four minutes left to play and found Naylor with a chipped cross, but his effort lacked any real power.
Despite late pressure from the home side, Tranmere withstood the pressure as both teams had to settle for a point.
Chesterfield: Boot, Curtis, McFadzean (Donacien 45), Swinkels, Owolabi-Belewu (Gordon 45), Braybrooke, Naylor, Dobra, Berry (Fleck 75), Markanday (Mandeville 75), Bonis (Duffy 85)
Attendance: 7,
