Spireites Victorious in Fourth Consecutive Fixture.

Chesterfield prevailed against Crewe Alexandra by a 1-0 scoreline at the Proact Stadium in this Easter Monday encounter. Tendayi Darikwa netted the only goal of the game, with the right-back’s first-half header ultimately sealing a fourth straight victory for the Spireites.

Paul Cook made two alterations from Friday’s three-point haul against Yeovil Town, as Jay O’Shea and Gboly Ariyibi took the places of both Ritchie Humphreys and Byron Harrison.

In the opening moments, Ariyibi took matters into his own hands with a lone run towards goal that culminated in a wayward shot that sailed straight into the stands. Involved once again, the ball fell to Ariyibi on the six-yard line and the winger struck first-time only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Paul Rachubka.

Bradden Inman spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring, as the midfielder volleyed high and ultimately wide of the target from the short distance of just eight yards. With 26 minutes on the clock, the Spireites took the lead courtesy of a looping header from Darikwa that was made possible by a perfect Gary Roberts cross from the left-hand side.

Sensing an opportunity, Sam Clucas drove into an area of space before forcing a low diving save to the right-hand side by Rachubka. On the stroke of half-time, Uche Ikpeazu received possession on the edge of the area prior to evading his marker and firing narrowly wide of the post.

After the break, Sam Hird met another Roberts cross from a wide position and directed the ball straight into the palms of Rachubka. O’Shea broke free of the defence before failing to force a save from the opposing goalkeeper with his effort, who then readied himself for a goal-kick and eventually instigated an attack for the Railwaymen.

Appearing from the substitutes’ bench, Dan Gardner fed the ball to O’Shea in a promising position only for the Irishman to waste another opportunity by shooting disappointingly into the stands. Waiting on the edge of the area, Roberts eventually tried his luck with a curled attempt that never troubled Rachubka in the slightest who prepared for yet another goal-kick.

As we entered the closing stages, Clucas went through on goal in a one-on-one situation only for play to be brought to an abrupt halt by a debatable off-side flag. Chesterfield played out four minutes of additional time successfully and more importantly, claimed an important three points in the race for a play-off place come the end of this season.