Chesterfield in seventh heaven after taming of the Shrews
Chesterfield won their first Sky Bet League One game since late October by thrashing fellow strugglers Shrewsbury 7-1 at the Proact Stadium.
Lee Novak scored a hat-trick while Jay O'Shea and Rai Simons both scored twice, with Zak Whitbread replying for Shrewsbury, who had Junior Brown sent off for two yellow cards.
The game had been in the balance until O'Shea produced a moment of quality in the 28th minute when his volley from the edge of the area flew into the top right corner.
O'Shea scored his second in the 40th minute when Ian Black tripped Sam Morsy in the box and the midfielder drove the penalty to Mark Halstead's right.
Chesterfield sealed victory with another excellent goal in first-half stoppage time.
Novak dispatched Gboly Ariyibi's cross on the half volley from 18 yards and only a fine save from Halstead denied O'Shea his hat-trick in the 50th minute.
Tommy Lee was beaten on his 300th league appearance for Chesterfield when Whitbread scored in the 65th minute but Simons punished poor defending in the 73rd minute.
Brown tripped Ariyibi in the 81st minute to get a second booking and give Novak his second goal from the spot.
Simons struck again in the 88th minute and Novak scored his third 60 seconds later to complete a desperate day for Shrewsbury.
Source: PA
