Second-half goals from Ryan Colclough, Ash Palmer and Paddy Madden gave the Spireites a 3-0 victory over Fleetwood Town to keep their play-off hopes alive.
An impressive defensive performance saw Fleetwood get shut out, despite having scored 35 goals away from home in League Two this season – more than any other team in the league.
Paul Cook made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Gillingham last time out, with Armando Dobra and Colclough replacing Dylan Duffy and Paddy Madden.
Will Grigg had a golden opportunity to give the Spireites an early lead, after Jenson Metcalfe’s cross to the back post was put back across goal by Kyle McFadzean but the effort was put over the bar from close range.
Olakigbe came close with what would have been a spectacular goal, in the 23rd minute, after bringing down a long ball with a deft first-touch, cutting in on his left foot and bending an effort towards the far bottom corner, which went inches wide.
Dobra was replaced by Ollie Banks, as Cook was forced into making an early change, after the Spireites’ number 17 went down injured, received treatment, and could not continue.
Another long-range effort came close, via Metcalfe in added time at the end of the half, who picked up a loose ball around 30 yards from goal and unleashed a powerful effort, which looked goal bound, as the rooted Jay Lynch was thankful to see the shot go just past his post.
The two sides went into the break deadlocked, despite the Spireites having the better of chances and the better of possession.
The Spireites got the lead they deserved through Colclough (55) after he beat a few members of the visitors’ defence before cutting in on his favoured right foot and smashing past Lynch into the far corner.
One minute later, Grigg could have doubled his side’s advantage. Olakigbe sent the Northern Irishman through on goal, but he could not find the target and slotted just wide.
Ryan Boot stepped up when called into action to make the first big save required of him, to deny Fleetwood’s Mark Helm from netting an equaliser against the run of play.
Palmer headed in a second in the 69th minute, which gave the Spireites breathing space. His looping header from Liam Mandeville’s free-kick dipped in at Lynch’s far post.
Bim Pepple played a tidy one-two with Madden to get past the Fleetwood defence, and looked to beat Lynch at his near-post with the effort but it was just wide of the mark – hitting the side netting.
Substitute Madden added a third for extra security as roles reversed from the previous chance, with Pepple becoming the provider after beating his man on the left and putting a low cross into Madden, to smash into the top corner first time.
The Spireites will travel to AFC Wimbledon next time out on Friday, April 18, in their penultimate away game of the 2024/25 season.
Spireites: Boot, Mandeville, Palmer, McFadzean, Gordon, Metcalfe (Naylor 74’), Fleck (Madden 74’), Olakigbe, Dobra (Banks 31’), Colclough (Duffy 68’), Grigg (Pepple 68’).
Unused subs: Thompson, Grimes.
Attendance: 7,739 (199 away)
