Lee Richardson rang the changes for the trip to Stockport. Steve Fletcher and Kevin Gray returned to the side, while Jamie Lowry and Alan O'Hare were the unfortunate ones to miss out. The side lined up in a 4-4-2 that appeared to feature Aaron Downes at right-back.

County put the visitors' new formation under early pressure and won a corner on 3 when Gray blocked a cross but Robertson was able to clear. Roche reacted well to take Edling's snap shot on 5. Like Wycombe's, Stockport's pitch is another used regularly by a rugby side, and it began to cut up from the start. Chesterfield responded: Lester took the ball off Ward and tried to squeeze a shot out on 8 and Fletcher stabbed the ball just wide a minute later after good work by Niven and Moloney.

Moloney's volley on 14 beat the keeper but passed a foot wide. A Downes cross to the back post on 15 found STEVE FLETCHER who headed home to give the visitors the lead.

Proudlock broke through and shot on 22 but Roche was able to save with his legs and gather at the second attempt, despite the late attentions of Elding.

Gregor Robertson picked up his third booking of the season for a foul on Owen on 23; Owen had to be replaced by Rose on 25. Stockport equalised on 33 when Roche came for a cross from our right but didn't get enough on the ball; it left the defence in confusion and Dickinson was left with a simple chance to score.

Logan pulled off a good one-handed save to deny Fletcher as Stockport's defence showed they could look as uncertain as their visitors' rearguard occasionally did. Fletcher was having a good game and was taken out by Raynes on the stroke of half time, but without the ref seeing anything untoward.

Half time: one each.

Chesterfield came out to attack in teeming rain at the start of the second half and fouls were inflicted on Ward and Moloney, but nothing came of the resultant free kicks. The ball deflected off Raynes on 48 to provide Chesterfield with their first corner of the second half. Gray's header from Ward's flag kick was deflected wide for another corner. Ward took it but Fletcher was judged to have fouled Logan in the County nets as the ball came over.

JACK LESTER restored Chesterfield's lead on 50. He took a good ball from Ward and beat two men before rifling the ball home, to the delight of the 603 travelling Spireites. Stockport pressed in return and Roche appeared to parry a cross onto the bar before it was cleared for a corner. Dickinson's free header at the near post flashed over.

Jamie Ward succumbed to a period of winding-up and became involved with Dickinson. Ward was booked but Dickinson, who started the whole thing off with a dose of verbals, was not. Still, Dickinson had to put up with Kevin Gray engaging him in earnest discussion - I think I'd rather have been booked!

Proudlock broke into the box and shot wide on the hour, as Roche appeared to be struck on the head by something thrown from the crowd. Elding equalised on 62 when Rose's left-wing cross left Gray on his own; the prolific forward was in first to slide it under Roche.

Proudlock took a 65^th minute corner but it sailed over everyone and out. Turnbull's shot cannoned off Niven after Elding was given space and time to set his team-mate up. Moloney's good work after being released by Fletcher on 73 gave Ward a good chance from a tight angle, but the ball went wide. Elding broke and put the ball in the net but the offside flag brought a sharp end to the home fans' celebrations.

Leven's stabbed shot on 75 looked to be creeping in but Logan came from somewhere to make a good save. Straight away Elding shot at the other end, and Roche pulled off a good stop. Two quick Stockport corners came to nothing as the game swung from end to end.

Chesterfield won their third corner of the half on 80. County defied conventional wisdom and chose the moment to bring Poole and Rowe on for Proudlock and McSweeney. Ward took the corner but it was cleared at the near post. Fletcher's header from a return cross was cleared for another corner, and another after that, as County brought men back to protect the point. Taylor gave away a needless handball 25 yards out on 86; Leven took it but the execution was poor; it cannoned off a defender and into the arms of the keeper.

Roche was forced into a good save to deny Dickinson on 87. Chesterfield replaced Moloney with Picken on 88. Late pressure from the home side brought two corners and the second saw Dickinson with a shooting opportunity, but Roche got down to save well. Lester had an opportunity to win it at the death but Conrad Logan pulled off a fine save to deny him.