Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith
Chesterfield were forced to settle for a point against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, playing out a 1-1 draw at the SMH Group Stadium.
Tom Naylor established the lead for the home side before Sam Finley levelled for Tranmere, who had earlier seen a penalty saved at 0-0.
The Spireites came into this game off the back of a perfect Easter weekend in which they picked up a pair of 1-0 wins over Cheltenham Town and Barrow.
And with those results having followed another triumph by the same scoreline at Accrington Stanley, Paul Cook’s side had started to build a solid standing within a very competitive race for the play-offs.
Taking on relegation-threatened Rovers presented on paper a good chance to collect consecutive victory number four then but it was the visitors who made the brighter start, a start which culminated in a penalty after Kyle McFadzean was judged to have committed a foul.
Omari Patrick’s effort from 12 yards was denied by Ryan Boot, however, something which appeared all the more costly when Naylor notched the opener at the other end just before the break.
After some patient build-up the ball was worked out to James Berry on the left, with his inviting delivery then met by a now trademark late run and header from midfield.
But the away side would get themselves on the scoresheet following the interval, with Finley sweeping home to cap a neat move less than eight minutes after the interval.
It was the scorer of the game’s first goal who then looked most likely to add a decisive third, with Naylor testing opposition stopper Marko Marosi and seeing an effort drop just wide in quick succession.
No further scoring action would be forthcoming though, meaning Chesterfield will look to return to winning ways when they host fellow top seven contenders Grimsby Town on Tuesday.
