Chesterfield fought back well from a one-goal deficit at Grimsby Town to deservedly secure a 1-1 draw following Tom Naylor’s equaliser.
The Spireites just edged the first period and maybe the same could be said for the Mariners in the second half – in the end there was very little between the sides and a point apiece was a fair outcome.
The Spireites arrived in Cleethorpes looking to regain their early season away form; having lost three of their last four away fixtures. An impressive performance in midweek against League One Rotherham United will have given them a confidence boost.
Historically, the two clubs have met many times over the years with Grimsby ahead in the win count, however the Spireites have already claimed two wins over the Mariners this season, at home in the League and the Vertu Trophy and clinched a narrow win at Blundell Park in the last, National League, encounter.
Paul Cook chose to make just one change to the midweek line-up against Rotherham: in came Max Thompson as Ryan Boot made way. Some good news on the bench as both John Fleck and Paddy Madden claimed a place.
It was another great away following that greeted the Spireites onto the pitch; Chesterfield won the toss and chose to defend the end that housed their supporters.
In the games’s first move of note a long ball down the middle found Icelandic international Jason Svanthorsson who carried the ball to the edge of the area before firing wide of Thompson’s right upright.
A super, mazy run by Armando Dobra and a final ball provided Ryan Colclough with a clear opening but his on-target effort was turned away for the Spireites’ first corner, quickly followed by a second that came to nothing.
Liam Mandeville won a corner on the right, took the kick himself and found the head of Jamie Grimes, whose well-directed header found Dobra who hit over from close range.
The Mariners broke the deadlock moments later; the impressive Svanthorsson provided the perfect opening for Jordan Davies (17) to divert the ball to Thompson’s left.
It should been all-square after Branden Horton set up Bailey Hobson who found the target only for Harvey Rodgers to save the day by heading clear off the goal line.
From another corner, Dobra hit wide after Darren Oldaker had laid back; another followed as did a deserved leveller. Mandeville won a corner on the left and Naylor (34) headed home direct from the dead ball kick.
Just one minute was added, the whole time was taken up as home keeper Jordan Wright received treatment but there was still time for the Spireites to win two corners but couldn’t capitalise on either.
The Spireites won a free-kick just outside the area in their first attack of the second half, Oldaker hit narrowly wide of Wright’s right post from 20 yards.
The home side then had a strong ten minute period without causing a serious threat; the Spireites re-grouped and looked to pose questions themselves.
Halfway through the half, Cook made a double change and introduced Madden and James Berry at the expense of Bim Pepple and Hobson.
The game, as it entered the final 20 minutes, was very evenly balanced with neither side managing to dominate but the home side having the lions share of possession.
Cook used his further three substitutions as Tim Akinola and Kane Drummond entered the field followed by the introduction of Fleck.
There was lots of pressure from the home side but the Chesterfield defence was solid throughout and looked comfortable once back on level terms.
Three added minutes were awarded but no opening was fashioned by either side as the two teams had to settle for parity and a share of the points.
Spireites: Boot, Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes ©, Horton, Oldaker (Drummond 79), Mandeville (Fleck 82), Colclough (Akinola 79), Hobson (Berry 67), Dobra, Pepple (Madden 67)
Unused subs: Boot, Donacien
Attendance: 6,706 (inc 1,147 Chesterfield fans)
