Chesterfield extend their season after beating fellow play-off hopefuls Halifax Town 2-1 at The Shay.
James Rowe named an unchanged starting eleven for the first time in his tenure at the club.
Chesterfield soaked up some early pressure from the home side who started brightly.
It was the away team who took the lead though, in the 15th minute when Liam Mandeville broke free at the far post and headed home George Carline’s long throw.
Just after the half-hour mark the Shaymen levelled proceedings through Darren Stephenson who capitalised on Manny Oyeleke’s slip to fire into the far corner.
Less than five minutes later Rowe was forced to make his first substitution when namesake Danny was forced off due to illness. Nathan Tyson came on to replace him.
Jake Hyde had a chance to put Halifax ahead but the striker steered his shot wide.
Just before the break Carline was through on goal but he slipped and the ball rolled out of play.
Rowe made a like-for-like substitution at the break with Alex Whittle coming on to replace Joel Taylor.
Five minutes into the second half Pete Wild’s men were presented with a couple of chances to take the lead. First up James Montgomerey made an excellent save to deny Hyde before Oyeleke cleared the same man’s header off the line. The loose ball fell to Kieran Green who volleyed over.
Results elsewhere meant Chesterfield had to score a winner to secure a play-off place.
In the 80th minute Spireites super sub Tyson delivered the knockout blow. The 39-year-old tapped in Mandeville’s cross at the back post.
Chesterfield managed the game well and saw out that all-important victory. They finished 6th in the National League and will face Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday in a play-off eliminator.
Chesterfield: Montgomery; Evans, Gunning, Maguire; Carline, Weston, Oyeleke, Taylor (Whittle 46); Clarke, Mandeville (McCourt 84); Rowe (Tyson 36).
Unused Substitutes: Yussuf, Whelan
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