Two in a row for Chesterfield after victory at Rochdale
Chesterfield came out 3-2 winners at Rochdale to make it back-to-back wins for Danny Wilson's men in Sky Bet League One.
Late goals from Lee Novak and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, scored within two minutes of each other, put the Spireites in control and after Gboly Ariyibi's 86th-minute dismissal they held on to claim three points despite Rhys Bennett's header during six minutes of stoppage time.
Jay O'Shea handed the visitors the lead in the 27th minute when he collected Ebanks-Blake's clever flick and wrong-footed Andy Cannon before sliding a neat finish wide of Josh Lillis.
Ebanks-Blake and Ariyibi both saw efforts ruled offside before the break and Chesterfield's frustration increased in the 58th minute when the home side equalised. Cannon's cross picked out Ian Henderson's run and he sent a diving header past Tommy Lee.
And with the home apparently in the ascendency, Chesterfield delivered a sucker punch in the 78th minute when sub Dan Gardner worked his way down the left and advanced into the area before picking out Novak who diverted the ball into the top corner of the net.
Chesterfield seemingly made the points safe two minutes later when Ebanks-Blake seized on a slip by defender Jim McNulty and fired past Lillis.
The afternoon was soured for the Spireites five minutes from time when man of the match Ariyibi was dismissed for his second act of simulation.
Bennett nodded home in the third minute of stoppage time, but Dale could not force a leveller.
Source: PA
