Spireites Fall to First League Defeat.
Chesterfield failed to add to their two consecutive victories in Sky Bet League One, as Milton Keynes Dons sealed a 1-0 victory at the Proact Stadium on Tuesday night courtesy of Benik Afobe’s second-half strike.
The first real chance in this contest fell to the feet of Afobe, who capitalised on a Sam Hird slip and found himself one-on-one with Tommy Lee before being denied by a last-ditch tackle from Ian Evatt. Tendayi Darikwa’s low ball across goal found Sam Morsy, but the midfielder’s effort was saved comfortably by David Martin.
Romuald Boco broke free of the visitors’ defence and fired straight at Antony Kay, which won his side a corner-kick with the help of a deflection. Morsy tested the reactions of Martin once again with a forceful shot from 20 yards, but the goalkeeper still held firm.
A driven corner-kick from Gary Roberts was met by Evatt, only to be denied by Kay who cleared the ball magnificently off the line. On the stroke of half-time, Hird spurned a glorious opportunity to put the Spireites in front and managed to head the ball against the post from six yards.
With 47 minutes on the clock, the visitors took the lead on the counter-attack through Afobe’s forceful drive into the bottom right-hand corner of the net past a diving Lee from an awkward angle. Nine minutes later, the away side had appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee after Daniel Powell went to ground inside the area.
Ollie Banks met a driven cross from the right-hand side, although his towering header flew straight into the stands. Desperate to get back on level terms, Chesterfield continued to press forward and restricted the Dons firmly to their own half of the field.
Armand Gnanduillet tried his luck from range, although the striker directed the ball low and dismally wide of the post. With the six minutes of additional time coming to an end, Evatt could have snatched a late equaliser but headed over the crossbar as the Spireites fell to an undeserved defeat.
