Chesterfield suffered late FA Cup heartbreak as Jack Senior’s last-minute strike earned Doncaster Rovers a 2-1 win on Saturday evening.
Lee Bonis had given Chesterfield the lead before Owen Bailey quickly equalised for Doncaster in what was an evenly fought first half.
John Fleck was then issued a red card on the hour mark, and the visitors made the man advantage count late on to progress through to the third round.
Paul Cook made wholesale changes to his starting lineup for this FA Cup clash, with Chey Dunkley and Liam Mandeville the only survivors from Tuesday’s Vertu Trophy defeat to tonight’s opponents.
The Spireites started on the front foot against the League One outfit.
But it was the visitors with the game’s first big chance when Zach Hemming thwarted Jordan Gibson after the forward beat the offside trap.
Chesterfield’s first real sight of goal came when Dylan Duffy whipped a low free kick into the area and found Kyle McFadzean, who blazed his effort over the bar.
Again, the Spireites came close; this time, Bonis’ curled effort was tipped around the post.
Then, with the next attack, Chesterfield took a 31st-minute lead.
Mandeville’s initial volley was well saved, but Bonis was the quickest to react and tapped home from close range.
The joy was short-lived, however, as Doncaster equalised just three minutes later.
Bailey rose highest at the far post to meet Luke Molyneux’s cross and headed in from point-blank range.
After the break, Chesterfield immediately started positively.
Dilan Markanday’s low cross found Bonis, but he didn’t connect cleanly with his finish.
Bonis again came close after a scramble in the six-yard box fell to the forward, who fired over the bar.
Doncaster then launched an attack of their own; fortunately for Chesterfield, Dunkley was on hand to block Molyneux’s effort.
On the hour mark, just five minutes after being substituted on, Fleck was shown a straight red card after the referee deemed his challenge on Bailey a reckless one.
Chesterfield dropped deeper after the sending off, limiting Doncaster to speculative efforts.
James Sterry tried his luck from distance with 15 minutes to play, which Hemming watched whistle over the bar.
In the 84th minute, Doncaster had the ball in the back of the net through Billy Sharp, but much to the relief of the home fans, the veteran striker was offside.
Doncaster’s pressure was relentless as the clock ticked down, and in the 90thminute, they made it 2-1.
Senior was played through by Jay McGrath and fired emphatically past Hemming at the near post.
Unfortunately for the Spireites, they were unable to fashion a response in stoppage time.
The defeat means Chesterfield exits this year’s FA Cup in the second round.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Tanton, Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon, Naylor, Stirk (Fleck 55), Mandeville, Markanday (Darcy 74), Duffy (Lewis 67), Bonis (Grigg 74)
Attendance: 6,175
