Lee Richardson rewarded the side that battled to a welcome win against Brentford last Saturday by naming an unchanged line-up for the trip to Rochdale. Downes' foul on Rundle gave Higginbotham a chance to cross, but Kerry cleared. Dale kept the Spireites on the back foot during the early phase of the game, without really threatening the visitors' goal. Higginbotham had a good opportunity with his head on 5 but put it wide.

Winter's short free kick to Leven took Dale by surprise and his cross was deflected out for the game's first corner. Lowry's kick was headed clear by Howe. Basham beat two men to win Dale's first corner on 9 and Thorpe's flick-on set up a shot that was deflected by Winter for a second corner.

Chesterfield earned a share of possession but a lack of width prevented clear chances from being fashioned. Dowson worked the ball through from a Rochdale mistake to Lester, whose shot was saved by Spencer on 29. Higginbotham's fine cross on 30 deserved a better header than Thorpe could produce. The linesman's offside flag saved the visitors after Downes and Roche suffered a communication breakdown on 33.

Thorpe's elbow on Picken was missed by a referee who booked Downes immediately afterwards for a foul on Rundle. Kovacs headed the ball out for a corner Thorpe's overhead kick smacked into Lowry's face and left him shaken.

Halftime: Goalless.

Rain began to reduce the pitch to mud. Lowry did well to clear Higginbotham's cross as Dale stepped up the pressure at the resumption. Chesterfield missed a good opportunity to take the lead when Lester took Leven's lovely ball into the box but was unable to work a clear opening. The ball came back to Leven, then Winter, before it was cleared for a corner. A harsh decision saw a foul given against Kovacs on 51 and left Dale with a free kick in a dangerous place but Winter got a block in to stop Rundle's free kick.

Stanton was the recipient of the next odd decision when his 55^th-minute tackle on Dowson was called a foul. Rochdale had eleven men back to defend a poor free kick. There was now more urgency from the Spireites; Dowson's cross let Lester flick but Spencer saved well in the Dale goal.

Le Fondre replaced Howe on 57. Hartley's foul left Dale with a good chance to cross; it came to McArdle, free at the back post, but his effort was cleared off the line. Hartley was given a yellow card for a diving foul on Higginbotham.

Dowson made way for Jamie Ward on 66. Chesterfield were the more comfortable now, with the wind behind them. Ward picked up a soft booking after kicking the ball away when called offside on 74. A scramble in the Rochdale area on 82 saw chances for Lester and Lowry slip by as shots were delayed.

Dale bought Buckley on for Thorpe with five minutes left, while Muirhead replaced Higginbotham. Stanton fouled Lester on the edge of the box but two Spireite efforts cannoned off the wall before Ward was fouled by McArdle. Winter worked it to LEVEN, who crashed the ball into the back of the Rochdale net with one minute - plus stoppages - remaining.