A young Chesterfield side lost 3-0 at Buxton in the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup.
Goalkeeper and captain Ashton Rinaldo was forced into action in the 13th minute when his parry saw the ball fall to a home player, but some quick thinking from Lewis Reah saw the ball cleared from danger.
Chesterfield saw their best chance of the half unfold in the 15th minute after a quick breakaway from Chris Kondolo gave the young forward the space to cross the ball into the penalty area, however no Spireite could latch onto the pass for the shooting opportunity, with Buxton regaining possession.
Diego De Girolamo gave the hosts the lead in the 20th minute, after a well-timed ball into the area from Fitzhugh found him in the six-yard box and he fired a powerful shot into the back of the net.
Some quick reactions from Rinaldo prevented the hosts from adding a second, with a rebound volley from Archie White forcing the keeper to tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner.
After a flurry of shots from inside the six-yard box towards the end of the half, a well-timed parry from Rinaldo saw the ball land at the feet of Elliott, with the Buxton forward firing a lobbed shot off the bar and out for a corner.
The resulting corner gave De Girolamo his brace with a powerful half-volley past Rinaldo after a clearance from Jack Brassey in the 40th minute, seeing the hosts take a two-goal advantage at half-time.
The Spireites looked to start the second half strongly, with a flurry of early opportunities presenting themselves as the young side looked to work their way back into the game.
The hosts added a third goal in the 51st minute from Leeds United loanee Cian Coleman, with the ball squared across the face of goal for a simple finish from the young prospect.
The Spireitesopted to bring on some fresh legs in the shape of Connor Cook and Frankie Short in the 60th minute to bring themselves back into the tie, with the latter breaking through the defensive line to give Chesterfield their first chance of the half, with the strike parried away by Cooper.
James Simmonite, who came on as a replacement for Fernando Tavares, fired wide of the near post in the 67th minute.
A strong break through the Buxton backline from Luca Vergari gave the young forward the space to cut the ball back across the face of goal, with Cooper missing the recovery. Simmonite was unable to arrive in the six-yard box in time, with the ball rolling across the penalty area for Buxton to clear.
Heading into the final ten minutes of the match, the hosts showed composure and retained the majority of possession, trying to break down a high defensive line from Spireites, desperately searching for a goal of their own.
A well-worked move, kick-started by Kondolo, gave Simmonite the chance to play a deep cross into the box. Max Cook charged into the area to meet the ball but was outmuscled by defender Dylan Mantle.
A great diving stop from Rinaldo denied De Girolamo his hat-trick.
The Spireites kept displaying resolve, with their determination seeing chances created late in the second half, switching to a back-three formation.
With two minutes added on at the end of the game, a final chance fell to Kondolo to launch a counter, but his pass under pressure proved too quick for Cook to reach.
Chesterfield: Rinaldo; Gledhill (C. Cook 60), Brassey, Reah, D’Sena; Whitney, Tavares (Simmonite 67); McKernan (M. Cook 73), Vergari, Kondolo; Marshall (Short 60)
Unused sub: Wilcock (GK)
