A first-half strike saw Chesterfield U21s women’s team lose 1-0 against their title-winning Bolton Wanderers counterparts at the SMH Group Stadium.
Milla Hodson’s goal secured the win for the visitors on the final day of the league season.
The opening chance of the game fell to the visitors through Lacey Taylor who found herself in on goal 13 minutes in, but her strike hit a post from six yards out.
After 24 minutes, Bolton had another chance to take the lead, through Tamzin Gallagher, after cutting inside of Harrianne Pepper on the right but her shot was just wide of the far post.
A head injury for Jess Dearden-Lilly saw the first substitution of the game, 30 minutes into the first half.
A big opportunity for Bolton’s Hodson came around ten minutes before half-time, after a long ball over the top, when she slotted wide of the far post.
Hodson scored what proved to be the winner with her next chance in the 41st minute, finding the back of the net with a shot from the right corner of the penalty area.
Bolton almost doubled their advantage straight after half-time as Eleanor Seals’ free kick found an unmarked Taylor who headed just over.
The closest the Spireites came in the opening hour of the game was through Lexi Butterworth, with an ambitious, impressive effort from range but Lara Stanley held the shot well.
The Spireites had a huge penalty claim with just a couple of minutes to go as Butterworth appeared to be fouled by two Bolton defenders, but referee Jason Baker was unmoved.
The Spireites finish their season in third position and will look towards next term.
Spireites: Stocks, Stafford, Jenkins, Mann, Pepper, Harrison ©, Pinkey, Watts, Cowperthwaite, Thompson, Butterworth
Subs: Allcock, Spencer, Harrison, Petrillo, Rufus
