Chesterfield went down to a 2-0 defeat at Bromley on Saturday afternoon.
The Spireites arrived at Hayes Lane for their last away league fixture knowing that a positive result was important to both sides; Bromley want to maintain their current play-off position and the Spireites needed to firm up their third place spot.
The Ravens have the edge in terms of results over the five seasons and won decisively here last season but Chesterfield arrived unbeaten in their last six away games, with wins in five of those. Paul Cook chose to start with the same starting XI that performed so well against Torquay in midweek and just one change on the bench as Mike Jones took over from Branden Horton.
The Spireites, in all-blue, started strongly and pushed forward from the off. Andrew Dallas made two strong runs in the opening exchanges without causing serious danger.
Ryan Stirk, on loan from Birmingham City, took an early knock and looked certain to be substituted but he recovered sufficiently to carry on but not for long and was replaced in the 10th minute by Jude Arthurs.
The Spireites missed a golden opening from a corner on the right: Jeff King’s kick was met strongly by Jamie Grimes, sadly Andrew Dallas couldn’t connect cleanly with the header into the box and his effort flew over.
A period of Chesterfield pressure ended abruptly with a lightning Bromley break. Top scorer Michael Cheek was through on goal and was only denied by a timely last-ditch tackle from Darren Oldaker who was happy to concede a corner. From that kick Deji Elerewe headed against the woodwork.
The home side continued to threaten and won a free-kick on the edge of the area. Billy Bingham’s powerful hit was held well.
Liam Mandeville found Dallas who was goalbound only for a perfectly timed tackle from Topalloj to end the move.j
Bromley took the lead in the 37th minute when Billy Bingham picked up a Spireite clearance, 25 yards out; his powerful shot looked to be going wide, instead it surprised everyone by hitting Fitzsimons’ left upright and sneaking home.
The Spireites looked to bounce back and Ryan Colclough forced a corner after his strong shot from distance was denied by the home keeper Reece Charles-Cook.
Michael Cheek was again clean through and was only denied when Fitzsimons  came out his area to kick to safety.
Home pressure continued as Corey Whitely burst into the box; sadly Ollie Banks’ challenge was judged worthy of a penalty. You would have put money on Cheek converting, instead his kick hit the crossbar and flew to safety.
Colclough looked to level but, again, he was denied well by Charles-Cook.
Chesterfield had chances in the first forty-five but at the break they’ll probably have felt they got a break to only be one goal adrift.
The sun came out at the start of the second period as the Spireites looked to claw their way back into the game. They gainedyet another corner in their first foray but failed create.
Bromley broke and Kelley Fisher crossed well only for Besart Topalloj to hit over.
Laurence Maguire came to the rescue after Whitely’s through ball put Jude Arthurs clear, a perfectly timed tackle was needed.
Billy Bingham tried his luck from long range but Fitzsimons claimed easily.
Neat play from the Spireites produced yet another flag kick on the right. King’s dead balll was met well by Paul McCallum at the far post but he could only direct into the arms of the home keeper.
Bromley doubled heir lead after a ball into the box from Louis Dennis saw Ash Palmer agonisingly slice the ball into his own net, giving Fitzsimons no chance.
Chesterfield pushed and Dallas’s effort was blocked well with the Bromley defence looking solid.
With just over 20 minutes remaining Paul Cook made two changes. Jez Uchegbulam swapped places with McCallum and Joe Quigley replaced Jeff King
Ryan Colclough made a great run down the left but his final ball from just inside the area was grabbed gratefully by the home keeper.
A strong run into the box by Louis Dennis ended with his hit deflected for a corner that came to nothing.
Tim Akinola entered the game as a replacement for Ollie Banks and slotted smoothly into the middle and immediately made a couple of strong runs.
The Spireites won a free wide right but Mandeville’s ball in was claimed easily.
Uchegbulam ran well down the right, the move ending with Mandeville trying a shot from outside the area, his effort was narrowly wide. Moments later a Mandeviile free kick flew out of play to sum up a frustrating afternoon where the Spireites, after a promising start, succumbed to a dominant home performance.
Bromley saw the game out well to clinch a play-off place and put a question mark against the final league position of the Spireites.
Chesterfield: Fitzsimons, Grimes,, Maguire, Mandeville, Colclough, McCallum (Uchegbulam 69)
King (Quigley 70), Palmer, Oldaker, Banks (Akinola 76), Bromley Dallas
Unused Substitutes: Williams, Jones
Referee: Jason Richardson
Attendance: 3,817 (614)
