The Spireites secured an emphatic 5-0 victory over Gateshead at the SMH Group Stadium. The win puts the Spireites nine points clear at the top of the table, with two games in hand.
A hat-trick from Will Grigg in addition to goals from Tom Naylor and Michael Jacobs meant that Paul Cook’s men ensured all three points.
Cook made six changes from the side that faced Watford with Harry Tyrer, Jeff King, Tyrone Williams, Ryan Colclough Michael Jacobs and Grigg coming into the starting XI.
The Spireites took the lead in the 12th minute. Liam Mandeville dinked in a free-kick from deep, and the ball fell favourably into the path of Grigg, whose poacher’s instinct came into good use as he was there to knock the ball into the back of the net.
Grigg was close to adding another when he won the ball back on the edge of the Gateshead box, but his near-post effort was tipped wide for a corner.
The Spireites doubled their lead in the 33rd minute through Tom Naylor, who ran onto a ball in behind on the right-hand side and from the tightest of angles he squeezed the ball past Edward Beach in the Gateshead goal.
The Spireites made it three in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Grigg got his second goal of the game after getting on the end of a through ball from Jacobs and calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net, despite Beach getting a touch to it.
Jacobs made it four for the Spireites soon after, in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. The Spireites won the ball high up the pitch and it was played into Jacobs inside the penalty area who coolly placed it past Beach.
The Spireites went into half time with a 4-0 lead.
Jacobs hit the bar early in the second half with a fantastic curling effort from just inside the box.
The Spireites were awarded a penalty when substitute James Berry was brought down in the box.
Grigg stepped up for the penalty and completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute, side-footing the ball into the top right corner.
After this emphatic win, attention will now turn to this Saturday’s FA Trophy fourth round tie against Welling United.
Spireites: Tyrer, King, Williams, Palmer, Horton, Naylor ©, Oldaker, Mandeville (Banks 77’), Jacobs, Colclough (Berry31’), Grigg (Quigley 77’)
Unused subs: Sheckleford, Dobra
Attendance: 7,063 (112 away)
