The Spireites came from behind to secure a point in a 1-1 draw at Maidenhead United, with Michael Jacobs scoring the equaliser just before the hour-mark.
The lead at the top is trimmed but but Chesterfield go into Tuesday’s clash against in-form Bromley with a three-point cushion but frustrated that their possession couldn’t be converted into an extra two points.
The Spireites arrived at Maidenhead’s York Road ground with seven straight wins behind them; they knew that extending that run at the historic ground, where they had yet to taste victory, was never going to be easy despite the recent run of the Magpies with five consecutive losses behind them and no goals in the last four fixtures. United recently moved to bolster their defensive capabilities by signing 19-year-old James Golding on loan from Oxford United.
With games coming thick and fast Paul Cook has recently chosen to make changes to starting line-ups in order to keep players fresh; that policy continued in Berkshire although one change wasn’t optional as Mike Jones picked up his fifth yellow card at Rochdale midweek and had to sit-out the game, Ollie Banks took his place. There was just one further adjustment as Will Grigg started and Joe Quigley had to settle for a place on the bench.
A good following of travelling Spireites noisily greeted the team on to the pitch. By kick-off the conditions had turned overcast with no longer any sign of the sun but the pitch looked in excellent condition. There is a slope to the York Road pitch and Chesterfield, in all-blue, played uphill in the first half.
Some very neat football from the Spireites in the early stages as Ryan Colclough, Armando Dobra and Will Grigg combined well on the left before Liam Mandeville joined in on the opposite flank but failed to capitalise as the ball ran for a goal-kick.
A super ball from Jacobs found Grigg in the area, he tried a chip but Craig Ross was happy to concede the game’s first flag kick. Mandeville’s connection went wide.
The home side went close as Jayden Mitchell-Lawson hit over from Reece Smith’s left wing cross.
A poor pass from Mandeville allowed Reece Smith a shot at goal that brought their second corner but the flag- kick was wasted.
More good inter-play from the Spireites brought another corner but no subsequent threat.
Maidenhead took the lead after a defensive header from Jamie Grimes went straight to Mitchell-Lawson who in-turn fed Tobi Sho-Silva who hit home from close range to register their first strike in five games.
A great move on the right saw Colclough provide and Dobra strike from 12 yards, sadly into the arms of Ross.
An off-side flag and a cross-bar saved the home side as Mandeville tried his luck with a chip from the right.
A seven-man move saw Banks eventually fire inches wide of the left upright in the fourth minute of first half added time, lots more possession followed but no breakthrough before Jason Richardson blew for the break.
No changes at the re-start as the Spireites looked to take advantage of the downhill slope
Ross came to the rescue as he happily put Michael Jacobs’ six-yard hit behind for an early second half corner.
Just before the hour-mark the Spireites levelled when Mandeville fed Jacobs who hit a sweet angled chip from 15 yards that gave Ross no chance.
So close for the Spireites as Jamie Grimes’ downward header, from a cross from the right, flew inches wide of the right upright as Colclough looked to get a final touch.
Tyler pulled off the save of the game as he palmed away Sam Beckwith’s strong blast from 25 yards. Minutes later he was called into action as he saved well from substitute Chanka Zimba.
Chesterfield made their first change after 79 minutes when James Berry took over from Colclough.
Soon after Quigley replaced the hard-working Grigg
Berry had his first effort on target but Ross claimed well.
In added time Berry forced Ross to parry to safety but there wasn’t time or the opportunity to gain that elusive extra goal to seal an eighth straight win.
Chesterfield:Tyrer; Mandeville, Williams, Grimes, Freckleton; Naylor, Banks, Dobra, Jacobs, Colclough (Berry) Grigg (Quigley)
Subs (not used): Palmer, Oldaker, King
Attendance: 1,667
