The Spireites came from two goals down to secure a dramatic 3-2 win over Solihull Moors on New Year’s Day.
After trailing 2-0, second-half goals from Tom Naylor, Ryan Colclough and Will Grigg meant that the Spireites got off to a winning start in 2024.
Paul Cook made four changes from the side that played Solihull on Boxing Day, with Branden Horton, Darren Oldaker, Michael Jacobs and Armando Dobra coming into the side.
Grigg had the Spireites’ first big chance of the game with a back post header that forced a fantastic save from Nick Hayes in the Solihull goal.
Josh Kelly forced a great save from Harry Tyrer when Solihull launched a quick counterattack, sending Kelly one-on-one. He tried to slot it into the bottom left corner, but Tyrer managed to push the ball away from danger.
The Spireites came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Dobra had an effort blocked on the line from six yards out and then this rebounded effort was saved by Hayes.
Solihull took the lead in the 34th minute through Matty Warbuton. It was a quick break away from Solihull with Kelly driving towards the Spireites ‘defence, he then squared it across to Warbuton who slotted it into the bottom left corner.
The Spireites went into half time trailing 1-0.
Grigg almost levelled it for the Spireites at the start of the second half with a back-heeled effort from close range, but Hayes did terrifically to get down and tip it wide for a corner.
Solihull doubled their lead in the 53rd minute from a corner. Tyrer made a good save following an initial header, then Mark Beck followed it up with another header that was nearly cleared off the line, but the linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the line.
Naylor pulled a goal back for the Spireites in the 63rd minute. The ball was fizzed across the box and then parried out into the path of Naylor on the penalty spot who blasted the ball into the left-hand corner.
The Spireites equalised in the 66th minute through Colclough, following a corner. The ball was whipped in from the right-hand side and Colclough rose the highest to glance his header into the top left corner.
The Spireites took the lead in the 69th minute. The ball was crossed in from the left-hand side, causing confusion in the penalty box, and Grigg was the first to react, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
After this impressive victory, attention will now turn to Saturday’s away trip to Watford in the FA Cup.
Spireites: Tyrer, King, Palmer, Freckleton, Horton, Oldaker, Naylor ©, Jacobs (Banks 76’), Dobra, Colclough (Mandeville82’), Grigg (Quigley 86’)
Unused subs: Shackleford, Berry
Attendance: 8,898 (171 away)
