Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith.

 

Chesterfield suffered their first home defeat of the season on Saturday, eventually going down 2-1 in their League Two meeting with Swindon Town.

Finley Munroe, who was later dismissed in the closing stages, saw his goal swiftly cancelled out by John Fleck before Joe Snowdon notched the winner in the second half.

The Spireites returned to the SMH Group Stadium following back-to-back weekends out on the road, defeating 10-man Grimsby Town 1-0 before surviving a late scare to pick up a point in a six-goal thriller at Crewe Alexandra.

And with their last league fixture on home soil also ending in a 3-3 draw when Accrington Stanley were the visitors on November 8, the wise money heading into this game appeared to trend towards a free-scoring affair.

That feeling would be vindicated with less than eight minutes gone, as a sweeping Swindon move eventually culminated in Munroe ghosting in at the back post to nod home the opening goal.

Before the clock had even reached double digits though things were all level again, with Chey Dunkley knocking down Liam Mandeville’s corner for Fleck to emphatically slam in the equaliser.

Having issued a rapid response to falling behind the hosts continued to look the stronger of the two sides during the remainder of the first 45, with striker Lee Bonis both striking the post and then forcing Connor Ripley into a save right before the break.

Paul Cook’s side would be left ruing those missed opportunities just past the hour as they fell behind again, as Snowdon this time latched on to loose ball following a set-piece to restore his side’s advantage.

Substitute Jake Tabor then had two quick-fire chances to put the game to bed late on, but was denied by the crossbar from his first and opposing ‘keeper Zach Hemming from his second.

With the game seemingly drifting towards an away win, the Blues would be handed one last lifeline in stoppage time as Munroe received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

That numerical mismatch would do little to alter the direction of travel though, with the best chance of the remaining minutes seeing Hemming called into action to deny Aaron Drinan.

Chesterfield now break from league action to face Doncaster Rovers in back-to-back cup clashes, travelling to South Yorkshire in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday before hosting the same opponent in the FA Cup second round next weekend.