Chesterfield kept their play-off hopes alive following a 4-1 win against Morecambe after goals from Will Grigg, Ash Palmer, Michael Olakigbe and Tom Naylor.
Paul Cook made two changes to the side that earned a 3-3 draw with Bradford last time out. Dylan Duffy and Lewis Gordon replaced Ryan Colclough and Harvey Araujo.
Liam Mandeville struck an effort towards the Morecambe goal 14 minutes in, trying to find the far post, but Ryan Schofield was there to prevent the ball sneaking into the back of the net.
Jenson Metcalfe was forced off just half an hour into the game after a heavy impact during a challenge in the minutes beforehand and was replaced with Michael Jacobs.
Kyle McFadzean came close to opening his Spireites account, in the 38th minute, after heading Duffy’s cross to the back post narrowly wide of the mark.
Substitute Jacobs had the ball in the net in the 42nd minute, before it was ruled out by referee Matt Corlett for a foul on Schofield in goal, much to the frustration of the Spireites fans.
Lee Angol found himself through on goal with the chance to give the visitors the lead against the run of play, but his finish was wide of the target.
The Spireites broke the deadlock after Mandeville’s cross was headed towards goal by Palmer, which was saved, and a goal-line scramble was eventually finished by Grigg on the turn (45+2).
Grigg’s goal saw Chesterfield go into half-time with a well-deserved lead, after dominating the first period.
The first chance of the second half was created by Olakigbe who drove a cross in from the right, but it evaded everybody in the middle and Dylan Duffy turned the cross wide at the back post.
The Shrimps found an equaliser out of nowhere after David Tutonda’s cross was headed in by Jordan Slew to stun the SMH Group Stadium, in the 59th minute.
The visitors were only level for three minutes after Palmer found himself free at the back post to smash in Mandeville’s corner from only a couple of yards out.
The Spireites’ lead was doubled in the 76th minute, after Colclough’s low, driven cross found Olakigbe at the back post to tap into the back of the net at full stretch.
Ryan Boot denied Slew from getting his brace with two strong hands to bat away the effort, after the striker got a shot on goal following a few twists and turns past the Spireites’ defence.
Naylor put the game beyond doubt in the 80th minute, adding a fourth. Mandeville’s cross was headed back across goal by Palmer for Naylor to tap in with ease.
The Spireites will continue their push for the play-offs, in the final game of the season, at Accrington Stanley next Saturday.
Spireites: Boot, Mandeville, Palmer, McFadzean (Oldaker 46’), Gordon (Grimes 77’), Fleck, Metcalfe (Jacobs 32’), Naylor ©, Olakigbe, Duffy (Colclough 63’), Grigg (Pepple 63’).
Unused subs: Thompson, Madden.
Attendance: 8,725 (308 away)
