Alan O'Hare kept his place in defence for the Spireites but changes up front saw Colin Larkin start alongside Colin Heath. With the side safe the bench featured young players keen to impress in Allison, Hazell, Hall, Nicholson and Smith. Perhaps surprisingly, MK left Edds, Taylor and McLeod on their bench.
The youth team received their championship trophy before the kick-off and received a good reception from the crowd, including the visiting supporters.
Hurst won the club's first corner of the day within two minutes, but this was cleared by Smith. Hurst attempted to find Larkin with a fifty-yard ball on 5 and only a difficult bounce prevented Larkin from bringing it under control.
MK's first corner came on 11 and was headed out by O'Hare for another. This was played short to Morais, who crossed for Platt to emerge unchallenged from a clump of players on the six-yard box and head home to give the visitors a 12th-minute lead. It was a pretty poor goal for Chesterfield to concede, given its similarity to the one conceded at Huddersfield in midweek.
Heath was fouled on 15 and O'Hara bent the ball into the visitors' box, where Downes met it with his head, but Baker was well-placed to gather with ease. At the other end, Chorley half-volleyed powerfully, but wide, on 21.
On 23, Allott was booked for a foul in midfield on Morais by a referee who probably got this one right - Mark had denied the winger progress into space behind him - but who didn't help his cause by missing some fairly obvious, if inconsequential, MK fouls. Two minutes later O'Hare followed him into the book for another foul on Morais. Two minutes after that Allott must have feared the worst when pulled up for a non-existent foul, but no action was taken beyond the free kick award.
Colin Heath's full debut came to a premature end on 29, with the injury he picked up after an earlier foul finally ending his game. Paul Hall came off the bench to partner Larkin up front. Mitchell produced a challenge worthy of his EastEnders namesake on Niven on 30, but play continued; surprisingly, the referee did not book the MK skipper when play stopped.
By this time, Chesterfield had played themselves into a rut. Roche was called on to make a good tip-over save and did very well to prevent Smith scoring after a Downes slip let him in. The team trudged off at half time, seemingly set to receive another McFarland tongue-lashing.
Halftime: Spireites 0 Dons 1
Chesterfield started the second period brightly and were back on level terms on 50 minutes. O'Hara crossed from the left; Allott stole in on the far side of the box and headed it back across. With MK's backline looking for offside LARKIN came through the defence to slot the ball home from six yards.
Hurst shot over and wide from 35 yards on 55, and MK brought the pacy McLeod on for Wilbraham after 57 minutes.
Chesterfield sought to turn the screw but had to beware of MK's counter-attacking. McLeod got away down the left and was brought down by Niven a foot or so outside the penalty area. Smith opted to shoot from the free kick and Roche had to be alert to push the ball over. Two minutes later Larkin turned his man on the edge of the MK box and was similarly judged to be brought down, although the MK man clearly got the ball. Hurst's low cross was deflected away by Lewington.
Reuben Hazell made a welcome return on 63, replacing Janos Kovacs. Two minutes later Taylor replaced Morais for the visitors. This seemed to concede a little width to the home side. A fine Chesterfield move on 70, involving clever interplay between Hall and Larkin, set Niven free with only the keeper to beat, but Baker did well to block him out. A minute later Baker produced a stunning double-save with his feet to deny Niven, again, then Allott from the rebound.
O'Hara was pulling the strings as The Spireites pressed, finding Hurst on 78, but the winger cut in and shot wide with Larkin handily placed.
Smith replaced Niven on 83, while MK brought Edds on for Mitchell. Within moments Edds gave MK the lead. Platt worked to ball forward to him, on the edge of the box; McLeod's run across took a defender and opened a gap through which Edds drilled the ball, past the despairing dive of Roche. From the restart Larkin got through one on one with the keeper, but again Baker kept it out, and, in the event, might well have kept his team up with today's display..
Choose a summary to match your mood:
1: But for Baker, we might have won in some comfort.
2: But for poor finishing, we might have won in some comfort.
The truth, as ever, lies somewhere between the two. We saw a fitter and therefore better Larkin today; Downes recovered from a shaky end to finish the better of Platt. Reuben dropped back in as if he hadn't been away and nullified the threat of McLeod through his anticipation alone, often stepping out to command the area just in front of central defence to great effect. Allott and O'Hara worked hard to create in midfield, where Niven was busy on his 100th appearance. We may come away pointing the finger - with some justification - at our ability to convert goodish chances but let's also acknowledge the fine efforts of Baker in the MK nets.
SB
