The Spireites had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Oldham Athletic at the SMH Group Stadium after conceding a goal deep into time added on.
Ash Palmer had earlier put Chesterfield ahead.
Oldham had a chance around the quarter-of-an-hour mark when James Norwood’s header from a cross flew wide.
Ryan Colclough had a headed opportunity for the Spireites, but it was easily saved by Matthew Hudson.
Branden Horton tried his luck from just outside the box, but his attempt went narrowly over the bar.
Oldham had a good chance when Norwood was sent one-on-one with Harry Tyrer, but he chipped his effort over the bar.
The Spireites found chances hard to come by in the first half, with Oldham sitting behind the ball and restricting space for the Spireites.
The Spireites went into half time with the score locked at 0-0.
Chesterfield took the lead in the 61st minute through Palmer. A corner was whipped in from the right-hand side which met the head of Palmer, whose effort went flying in.
Liam Mandeville came very close to doubling the Spireites’ lead after hitting the bar, directly from a corner.
Oldham equalised in the fifth minute of time added on through Norwood.
Attention will now turn to next Saturday’s away trip to Altrincham.
Spireites: Tyrer, Sheckleford (Williams 45’), Palmer, Grimes ©, Horton, Oldaker, Naylor, Mandeville, Colclough, Dobra (Jacobs 75’), Grigg (Quigley 83’)
Unused subs: Banks, Berry
Attendance: 8,164 (1,388 away)
