Chesterfield 3 Crewe 1: Spireites' vital win

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake opened up the scoring gently hitting a Connor Dimaio pass from a short-corner routine; the ball bobbled along, hit the post and span in. A slow-motion view of the goal will hardly have the ball moving. With the home fans still celebrating, Lee Novak tapped in his 12th goal of the season after Gboly Ariyibi left Jon Guthrie on his backside and his cross in was perfect.

A spirited Crewe, who came back from two down last time out to draw at Rochdale, pulled a goal back when Zoumana Bakayogo converted Brad Inman’s cross for his first league goal in almost three years and Crewe had chances to level things before the break but Tommy Lee was there to keep out their best efforts.

With 56 played, Spireites restored their two goal lead when home debut maker, Chesterfield born Dimaio, played a delicious one-two on the box-edge with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake ahead of slotting home his first ever senior goal.

Ollie Banks had a halfway line effort saved by Ben Garratt and Jay O’Shea spurned a couple of decent openings whilst Crewe continued to create openings and Lee continued to have to be on his toes, the game’s final chance seeing Alex centre-forward Marcus Haber heading inches wide.

Just a fourth home win for Chesterfield this season as they now look to put together a run of results to get them further away from the relegation trapdoor.

Chesterfield: Lee, Talbot, Anderson, Hird, John, Dimaio, Herd (O’Shea 19), Banks, Ariyibi, Novak, Ebanks-Blake (Dieseruvwe 74). Subs: Chapman, Humphreys, Donohue, Simons, Slew.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 7, Novak 12, Dimaio 56

Crewe: Garratt, Turton, Nugent, Ajayi, Guthrie, Fox, Jones, Inman, Bakayogo (Ainley 65), Haber, Saunders (Kirk 59). Subs: Richards, Ng, Kearns, Howell, Finney.

Goal: Bakayogo 27

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey)

Booked: Jones, Guthrie (Crewe)

Attendance: 6,264 (347 from Crewe)