Chesterfield made two changes to the starting line-up for the visit of Tranmere Rovers. Janos Kovacs got the Peter Crouch treatment - scores, then gets left out - as Kevin Gray came into the centre of defence. Up front Steve Fletcher returned to lead the line, with Jamie Ward being rested as far as the bench. Gareth Davies made it into the 16 for the first time this season, as a sub.

The crowd were briefed on the finer points of multi-ball operation as the teams came out, but the system isn't used in the FA Cup so a bit more homework required by the announcer.  The match took a while to get going; early exchanges saw Rovers have the better of the ball through being friendlier to it, but there was no end product to report. McClaren was yellow-carded on 15 for taking a free kick too quickly, we think.

Although Rovers looked happier with the ball, they had not made anything of this advantage, and a collective doubt became briefly evident in their play, allowing Chesterfield to take the initiative with the game's opening goal on 28. Leven took a throw from the Pop Side, about thirty yards up from the touchline, and found Fletcher's head; his well-crafted flicked header split the defence and LESTER, running through, rifled the ball home from about twelve yards.

Sherriff was booked on the half-hour for a shirt-pull on Lester after the wily forward had turned him. Picken was injured in a tackle on 34 and with him down, Tranmere equalised two minutes later. Downes's tackle on Shuker appeared to turn the diminutive forward on his head and was spectacular enough for the referee to award the penalty, despite claims that Downes had actually won the ball. Greenacre converted the spot kick.

Leven was booked for a foul on McClaren, after Goodison made ten yards to present a strident appeal to the referee that the Scot should be cautioned. Good job he didn't wave an imaginary card - they're cracking down on that, this year. Despite this, Chesterfield retained the initiative as half time arrived.

Half time: 1-1.

Tranmere pressed more as the second half commence, and Greenacre turned and shot narrowly over on 47, but Chesterfield were soon back up to speed and putting pressure on. Rooney crossed for Fletcher and Coyne pulled off a good save to deny him on 49; Robertson, who had recovered well from a nervy start against Shuker, took the ball near the centre circle and advanced past several players before firing over from 25 yards.

With their confidence visibly growing, Chesterfield played the ball out of defence and through midfield on 58 and Lester found Rooney, who shot into the side netting. On 61 Leven played a pass from the Premiership - fifty yards across the field to Lester, whose cross towards Fletcher had just too much on it for the big man to make a telling header.

Adam Smith replaced Bastians on 67 and was involved in the build-up to a Lester shot that curled agonisingly close to the goal from the edge of the box.

Rovers made a double substitution on 76 as they sought to turn the tide back in their favour. Curran and Zola replaced Taylor and Greenacre. A Good Niven tackle on 83 gave Rovers their first corner of the second half and McLaren took it; Kay stole in to crash the ball into the net from around 12 yards and give Rovers a lead that, on the balance of play, was undeserved. Curran was booked on 85 for not retreating at a free kick. Chesterfield got the ball towards Downes at the near post on 87 and the referee blew for a penalty for the home side, apparently for holding by Kay.

Lester took the kick and put it to the keeper's right; Coyne guessed correctly and pushed the ball away. On 89 Curran was sent off after picking up a second yellow for an awful foul on Downes. There was time for Picken's cross to find Rooney in a good position, but the Irishman shot narrowly over.

Full time: 1-2. Attendance 4296 (1153 from Rovers).

Chesterfield thus went out of the FA Cup at the customary stage but this game bears no comparison with some of the spineless capitulations to non-league rubbish that we've had to endure in recent seasons. After coming to terms with their opponents Chesterfield enjoyed the better of the game, dictating the pace and creating the greater number of chances.

Picken and Robertson were sound; Gregor had a bit of a torrid start against the tricky Shuker, but long before the end, Shuker had wandered into central midfield to get away from the defender. Downes looked better with an experienced man alongside him in Gray, who lasted the pace with no apparent bother. Gray was able to get into the faces and under the skins of the Rovers players in a way that the younger central defenders cannot, yet, and this clearly had an effect, forcing Taylor to lose interest and out-psyching Tremarco.

Leven looked the pick of the midfielders from both sides; Fletcher constantly worried the Rovers rearguard and Lester showed a more determined side, chasing balls into the corners and running the show up front. We couldn't quite show enough to turn half-chances into clear ones against a Rovers defence that was resolute throughout and more densely packed as the game went on.