Chesterfield’s impressive form ends with late defeat at Halifax

With 9 minutes remaining, substitute Rob Harker scored the one purpose of the sport when he got here on from shut vary after Ross Fitzsimons failed to avoid wasting a Matt Warburton free-kick.

The Spireites went into that one 9 undefeated, having gained all of their final six, however they’re dropping some floor within the race for promotion with each Notts County and Wrexham profitable. They additionally drop one spot to fourth within the desk after Woking’s win.

The lunchtime kick-off at The Shay was a sport with few clear probabilities, however Harker’s end was the distinction in the long run.

Paul Cook named an unchanged line-up for the sixth straight season. Tyrone Williams, who needed to go away the sector with blurred imaginative and prescient at AFC Wimbledon final weekend, was in a position to begin which means new signing Ash Palmer, who changed him, was again on the bench.

Chesterfield seemingly edged the opening 45 minutes, however neither aspect created something definitive.

Joe Quigley had the Spireites’ greatest moments of the half. The striker shot huge with a header early on, however later made an try huge of the purpose. He additionally had one other half probability however he could not get a shot off with his again to purpose.

King had deflected a harmful shot in entrance of his former membership however that was it for the guests. There had been quite a lot of good approaches they usually did not seem like conceding a purpose, however they might have wished to create extra.

On the opposite hand, Halifax, collectively the league’s worst scorers, hardly ever got here below risk however they gained confidence and completed the half stronger, former Spireite Mani Dieseuvwe hooking over the bar from shut vary simply earlier than half-time.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Darren Oldaker got here closest to scoring, however his free-kick from round 20 yards went simply huge.

Moments later, a heavy contact within the penalty space from Tom Whelan, after good work from Quigley on the left, let him down.

After an hour, Quigley rolled the ball into the web from a decent angle after driving into Oldaker’s cross, however the offside flag had gone up lengthy earlier than that.

Chesterfield’s subsequent greatest probability got here 10 minutes later when Jamie Grimes headed a King nook, however it was a cushty save for house goalkeeper Sam Johnson.

With 17 minutes remaining, Cook made a double substitution as Tim Akinola and Kabongo changed Tshimanga for Whelan and Quigley.

The sport continued to be tight with few probabilities however it was Halifax who broke the impasse within the 81st minute when Fitzsimons failed to avoid wasting a Warburton free-kick and substitute Harker discovered it from shut vary.

There was a late probability for Chesterfield however Mandeville could not sweep away Clements’ cross/shot from shut vary and the Spireites needed to be overwhelmed.