Match Report

Chesterfield secured a fine win on a cold night in Derbyshire as they condemned Aldershot to their fifth successive away defeat with a free-scoring display.

Jamie Ward proved to be a thorn in the Shots' side as he scored a fine hat-trick, and had a hand in two of Chesterfield's five goals.

Aldershot were punished repeatedly for a naive approach to the game, which left them far too open from the outset.

Ward was a danger early on, and it was his run down the left in the 24th minute which resulted in the first goal, as he cut inside and found Jack Lester, who finished in typical, clinical fashion.

It was Ward's marauding presence down the left that resulted in Chesterfield extending their lead from the penalty spot in the 41st minute.

The striker cut in from the left and squeezed past Danny Hylton before being upended inside the area. Ward dusted himself down and coolly fired the spot-kick past Nikki Bull in the Aldershot goal.

Aldershot were given an opportunity to reduce the arrears with a penalty of their own, but Scott Davies sent his penalty wide of the post.

That miss was made all the more significant when Aldershot scored two minutes later, with John Grant breaking down the right before crossing low for Kirk Hudson to score from eight yards.

But more poor defending allowed Ward to fire in from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute and the game was over when Aldershot again conceded too easily in the 73rd minute.

Ward went between two defenders just inside the Aldershot half and sent Derek Niven clear to place a right-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Ward was presented with his hat-trick two minutes later. Chris Blackburn was caught trying to bring the ball out of defence and the striker side-stepped Bull to complete a memorable night for Chesterfield, but one that Aldershot will want to forget.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides