The Spireites gained a point on the Lancashire coast thanks to a late late leveller after Ryan Stirk had hit for goal and a home defender turned the ball to his own net. Ex-Spireite Ched Evans put Fleetwood in front mid-way through the second half with a well struck drive from inside the area.
The Spireites arrived at a very windy Highbury Stadium unbeaten in five League games whereas Fleetwood had tasted defeat twice in the same period, including a 5-2 reversal in the previous home fixture against Barnet. The two teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the SMH Group Stadium earlier in the season but, at home, the Cod Army had come out on top in the Spireites’ previous three visits.
Paul Cook chose to make no changes to the side that started in the midweek win over Grimsby Town.
A noisy sold-out away end greeted the Spireites onto the pitch; Chesterfield kicked off and started the game defending the end that housed their supporters.
Ryan Boot had his first touch after he claimed Ethan Ennis’ swirling hit from the right wing.
The home side had just edged the early stages and went close in the tenth minute. Captain Elliott Bonds fed Ronan Coughlan with a great through ball, his first time effort was saved well by Boot.
The Spireites won the game’s first corner in the 13th minute; Liam Mandeville’s curler flew straight into the arms of home keeper Jay Lynch.
In the space of a minute both sides could have gone ahead. Fleetwood had a series of efforts blocked before both Evans and Mitchell Clark had shots cleared off the line. The ball was cleared and found Armando Dobra, his effort was narrowly wide of the Fleetwood right upright.
Two minutes later Tom Naylor saw the keeper out of his goal and tried to hook home, sadly his effort drifted wide.
Just before the half-hour mark Lee Bonis had a speculative effort central from 30 yards claimed well by Lynch.
With two minutes to the interval Bonds made good ground in the Chesterfield area but his effort was claimed low down by Boot.
Two added minutes were awarded with Kyle McFadzean having to use part of that time to receive treatment for a finger injury.
Fleetwood resumed strongly and quickly won a corner on the right that was quickly cleared, moments later Bonds ghosted into the area and hit well. Boot saved well. Moments later he was called into action again to thwart an Ennis blast.
Paul Cook made a triple change just before the hour. Just moments later the referee award a disputed free-kick on the edge of the area, for which McFadzean was dismissed. Immediately Cook made his fourth change as Janoi Donacien entered the game.
Five minutes later Evans received well and hit an angled drive into Boot’s right corner.
The ten men battled well, won a corner that was defended well. Substitute James Berry hit strongly but wide of Lynch’s right post.
With 13 minutes remaining Clark was put through and ran strongly to forced an alert save from Boot.
Fleetwood continued to press and Chesterfield had Sil Swinkels to thank on several occasions for well timed blocks and clearances.
The Spireites went so close when Dilan Markanday was put clear but Lynch saved his first-time effort well.
With just a minute remaining Chesterfield levelled after an angled fierce hit by Stirk into a crowded area was deflected in by a Fleetwood defender.
Six added minutes were signalled and Chesterfield battled well to ensure they held out and returned home with a vital point.
Chesterfield: Boot, Naylor (Berry 59), McFadzean, Mandeville (Markanday 59), Stirk, Bonis (Donacien 63),Dobra (Duffy 59), Gordon (Owolabi-Belewu), Swinkels, Curtis, Braybrooke
Subs not used: Fleck, Hemming
Referee: Ross Martin
