Chesterfield had to settle for a point at Notts County, drawing 2-2 after taking a two-nil lead following goals from Liam Mandeville and Akwasi Asante.
The Spireites led at the interval, doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second period and looked comfortable.Sadly, County came back to level in a crazy two minutes.
The Spireites failed to clear their lines and last year’s National League North top scorer, Macaulay Langstaff, didn’t spurn his gift as he powered home into the bottom corner.
With their tails up County were suddenly confident and levelled in their next attack of note, a quality cross from the right from substitute Sam Austin found the head of Langstaff who headed powerfully home.
Close to the 90 minutes, Fitzsimons ensured there was no hat-trick for Langstaff as he blocked his final shot well.
There’ll be disappointment at not making a winning position count but, considering the pressure the Spireites withstood, there should also be some satisfaction that they didn’t crumble. In the end probably a fair point for both sides as both maintain their unbeaten record.
It may be early in the season but both teams remained unbeaten after their first three league games and both will have been hoping to build on that start in the late-kick off fixture at Meadow Lane, knowing that leaders Barnet had won earlier to claim a three-point lead at the top of the table.
Notts started the season with an emphatic home win but came back well in both away games to grab late levellers. The Spireites, meanwhile, had improved with each game and won well in midweek against title-favourites, Wrexham.
In recent years the fixtures between the two sides at Meadow Lane have been close affairs and both managers will have prepared well for the challenge.
Paul Cook decided to make no changes from Tuesday’s starting XI (including subs), whereas Luke Williams chose to tweak with Aden Baldwin and Kairo Mitchell grabbing starting berths as Ed Francis and Aaron Nemane made way.
At kick-off the conditions were perfect, a carpet of a pitch and enough cloud and breeze to keep away the heat.
The Spireites were backed by 2,000 fans who noisily greeted the team onto the pitch and continued to maintain the volume.
County started the liveliest and forced an early claim from Ross Fitzsimons and a penalty area clearance from Branden Horton.
At the other end Liam Mandeville received centrally from Armando Dobra but his shot from 30 yards flew narrowly over the crossbar.
By the quarter-hour mark the game had evened up with both sides pushing and probing searching for the incisive ball; moments later it came as Chesterfield broke the deadlock.
Joe Quigley did well to receive and hold on the Notts touch-line, his ball wide to Asante didn’t threaten but the ball was cleared only as far as Mandeville who coolly blasted home an angled drive into the top left corner.
Notts pushed forward in numbers and within seconds
Adam Chicksen had floated in from the left wing a shot/cross that flew inches over the cross bar and Matt Palmer tried his luck from range with a shot didn’t trouble Fitzsimons.
In the 30th minute the Spireites went close. A neat ball from Ollie Banks set Horton free on the left, his ball into the area found Quigley who could get no power into his effort and Sam Slocombe claimed easily.
A superb cross-field ball from Banks found Jeff King wide on the right, his ball into the box found Horton whose shot was wide of the left upright.
Moments later Horton was fed by Mandeville, this time his ball into the area prompted Richard Brinkley to clear wildly, his effort almost skied into the Notts goal but Slocombe grabbed well.
In the last minute of the 45, Langstaff hit from distance but Fitzsimons was untroubled, the added time brought no further openings and the Spireites went into the break a goal to the good.
The second half was only a minute old when Dobra danced into the area and shot for goal his effort was always going narrowly wide took a deflection for a corner. Two more corners followed quickly, the second after Quigley just failed to connect with a gem of a ball from Dobra.
Mitchell spurned a great opening at the far post after Kyle Cameron provided a peach of a cross, his downward header lacked power.
In the next move Dobra set up Quigley who hit wide of the left upright.
Moments later the Spireites doubled their lead.
Asante received centrally from Quigley on the left, he made no mistake as he hit powerfully home.
Notts pushed forward and Mitchell provided well for Langstaff whose shot was saved well by Fitzsimons.
Moments later, at the other end, Dobra was fouled and, from the free-kick Asante picked up well, his shot on-the-run clattered the woodwork.
On the hour-mark, County pulled a goal back after the Spireites failed to clear and Langstaff drove the loose ball strongly home.
The goal game the home side fresh heart and within two minutes they were level. A perfect cross from the right found Langstaff who headed powerfully home.
Paul Cook made his first change as Kabongo Tshimanga replaced Quigley.
Notts pushed forward relentlessly. For the Spireites it was now all about “steadying the ship” and taking the heat out of the game.
From a free-kick Rodrigues hit narrowly over.
The Spireites regained their composure and broke well on several occasions without seriously threatening.
A second change saw Jack Clarke enter the game late on and he, immediately, added an extra spark.
Five minutes added time were awarded, the referee played six but, in the end, both teams will have been pleased to hear the final whistle.
Chesterfield: Fitzsimons, Horton (Maguire 90+1), Grimes, Mandeville, Williams, Dobra, Asante (Clarke 87), King, Oldaker, Quigley (Tshimanga), Banks
Subs not used: Cooper, Jones
Referee: Scott Tallis