Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Ben Smith.
Chesterfield extended their unbeaten run to five League Two matches on Tuesday, with Sam Curtis’ goal enough to see off Gillingham 1-0 at the SMH Group Stadium.
The Spireites squandered the chance to pick up back-to-back wins last time out, giving up the lead to draw 1-1 with Harrogate Town after goalscorer Lee Bonis was sent off just before the hour.
Paul Cook’s side did though manage to stretch their streak without defeat to four (two wins, two draws) with the weekend’s point; a steady run as they prepared to face the team who halted their 100% start in the league earlier in the campaign.
4-1 Gills was the score in that reverse fixture and it was they who made much of the early running here, launching a bombardment of set-pieces in the opening quarter of an hour.
There was an element of irony then when the same method brought about the opening goal at the opposite end, with a corner eventually dropping for Curtis to poke home from close range.
Taking the lead seemed to settle the home side down and they would go close to doubling their advantage in the latter stages of the first half, with Tom Pearce forcing opposing ‘stopper Glenn Morris to get down sharply and palm his effort away.
Once play resumed following the interval though the pattern of the game reverted to how it had begun, with Robbie McKenzie and Bradley Dack both presented with chances to level things early in the second 45.
And it was almost a complete re-run of events earlier in the game, with recently-introduced substitute Tom Naylor coming within a goal line clearance of putting Town 2-0 up once that pressure had subsided.
The one goal would ultimately prove enough for all three points on this occasion though; a win which Chesterfield would look to back up when they travel to take on Crawley Town on Saturday.
