A brace from Tom Naylor and a special goal from James Berry saw the Spireites come away from the Memorial Stadium with a 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers.
The sides went into the break on level terms after Shaq Forde’s header cancelled out Naylor’s header.
The pair traded goals again in the second half before substitute Berry popped up with the winner in the 78th minute.
Chey Dunkley, Naylor and Lee Bonis came into the starting XI for Kyle McFadzean, Ryan Stirk and Will Grigg.
Chesterfield almost got off to the perfect start when Dylan Duffy diverted Liam Mandeville’s cross towards goal. Goalkeeper Matthew Young did well to palm the ball out for a corner.
A minute later, Mandeville lofted a ball into the area and Naylor sent a powerful header into the back of the net.
Paul Cook’s side looked hungry to add a second and came close on a few occasions.
Duffy’s wicked delivery in the 13th minute found Bonis six-yards out, but Young made the block to deny the striker. Mandeville then sent the rebound wide of the mark.
Dilan Markanday was able to get to the byline a few minutes later before firing in a low cross; Mandeville looked to poke the ball towards goal but saw his effort drift wide.
Just before the half-hour mark, Bristol Rovers found an equaliser when Forde’s downward effort made its way past the outstretched Zach Hemming.
Following the goal, the home side had the better of proceedings heading into the break, but the two teams could not be separated by the time the referee signalled for half time.
Early in the second period, Bonis latched onto a forward pass and looked to find away around Young. The goalkeeper did well to claw away the ball before Duffy saw the rebound cleared off the line by Kofi Balmer.
In the 58th minute, substitute Joe Quigley won a header from a long ball; the ball landed at the feet of Forde, and the attacker slotted the ball beyond Hemming for his second of the game.
Four minutes later, the Spireites were back on level terms. Sam Curtis’ deflected cross found the head of Naylor, who expertly guided his header into the far corner.
A deft Bonis header across goal found Mandeville for a golden chance, but his header was saved by the feet of Young.
Armando Dobra, Berry and Will Grigg came on as the visitors went on the hunt for the three points.
With 12 minutes to go, Curtis whipped in another dangerous cross that found Berry at the back post. Despite it being a tight angle, the winger produced and outstanding volley to send the 927 travelling supporters into raptures.
Chesterfield saw out the game with brilliant defensive resiliency to secure a first win at Bristol Rover since 1964.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Curtis, Dunkley ©️, Swinkels, Pearce, Naylor, Braybrooke, Markanday (Donacien 85), Mandeville (Dobra 71), Duffy (Berry 71), Bonis (Grigg 71).
Unused Substitutes: McFadzean, Dickson, Ladapo.
Attendance: 8,210 (927 away)
