Spireites beaten at home

Chesterfield lost 3-0 to Accrington Stanley as the Spireites suffered a first home defeat of the season.

Josh Woods put the away side in front before second-half goals from Zach Awe and Jimmy Knowles ended Chesterfield’s nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Both sides had overcome non-league opposition in the FA Cup last weekend, and Chesterfield made three changes from the side that beat Horsham 3-1 with Jamie Grimes, Ollie Banks and Dilan Markanday handed starts.

The Spireites were forced into a late switch in goal after an injury to Max Thompson in the warm-up, with Ryan Boot taking his place and Ashton Rinaldo called up to the bench.

Chesterfield came under pressure in the opening exchanges and Connor O’Brien’s effort was cleared off the line by Tom Naylor to deny Accrington an early goal.

Paul Cook was then shown a yellow after loud appeals for a handball in the penalty area were waved away by referee Darren Drysdale.

Accrington took the lead in the 18th minute when Ben Woods’ free-kick was well saved by Boot before the rebound was tapped in by his namesake Josh.

The Spireites came close to equalising as a well-weighted cross from James Berry was turned wide at the back post by Devan Tanton.

Accrington continued to search for a second goal and Dara Costelloe’s curled shot narrowly missed the target.

Sonny Aljofree conceded a free-kick for a foul on Berry but the winger’s effort was struck straight at goalkeeper Billy Crellin.

Markanday flashed a shot over the crossbar before Crellin made a crucial save to deny Tanton an equaliser for the Spireites on the stroke of half-time.

Blackburn Rovers loanee Markanday combined well with Banks and the midfielder drove a shot wide at the start of the second half.

Crellin was forced to tip an ambitious effort from Berry over the crossbar as the home crowd rallied behind their side.

However, it was Accrington who doubled their lead after 65 minutes when Awe kept his cool to slot through the legs of Boot after being played through by Costelloe.

Substitute Knowles added a third for the visitors four minutes later after he tapped in Tyler Walton’s cross despite strong claims for a foul on Naylor in the build-up.

Markanday drew a strong save by Crellin before narrowly missing the target from just outside the penalty area.

Accrington defended resolutely and there was no way back into the game for the Spireites, who suffered their first home defeat since April.

Chesterfield: Thompson, Naylor, Grimes (Madden 74), Oldaker, Grigg, Dobra (Jacobs 78), Berry (Colclough 74), Gordon, Markanday (Cook 89), Banks, Tanton (Mandeville 74).

Unused substitutes: Rinaldo, Williams.

Attendance: 8,285 (217)