Quakers conceded three goals in the space of ten minutes as they surrendered a two goal advantage. Darlington had looked in complete control against Chesterfield but the promotion hopefuls somehow managed to turn the game around. Substitute Simon Whaley set the ball rolling with ten minutes left and a minute later Drew Talbot pulled the visitors level as Tadhg Purcell's brace was cancelled out. A Richie Byrne own goal with three minutes left then put Chesterfield in the driving seat for the first time in the match.

Darlington made three changes from the side which was beaten by Morecambe in their previous encounter. Mor Diop was restored to the starting eleven along with Josh Gray and Richie Byrne kept his place after coming on as a substitute at Christie Park last weekend. Chesterfield meanwhile named former Darlington player Adam Rundle in their side whilst Barry Conlon, another former Quaker, was on the bench.

The visitors never really troubled Darlington for much of this encounter. Ten minutes at the end of the game marred an otherwise excellent display from the home side.

Rundle sent a half volley wide of the near post after seven minutes but shortly afterwards Quakers should have opened the scoring. The ball hit Diop as Chesterfield tried to clear in the middle of their half. The ball broke for Purcell to drive forwards. The Irishman didn't quite have the pace to go himself but intelligently laid the ball into the path of Diop who somehow failed to hit the target as the ball bounced wide.

Chesterfield forced a number of corner kicks and on thirteen minutes Rundle forced Shane Redmond into a decent save for another flag kick. Quakers though were playing well and they took the lead on twenty-seven minutes. Nathan Mulligan reached the byline and played an excellent cross into the box which was turned home by Purcell. The hosts continued to keep Chesterfield at bay and with a few minutes left at the end of the half Gareth Waite headed a free kick which was sent from just inside the Chesterfield half over the bar.

Steve Staunton's side continued to look in control after the break and their grip on the game was strengthened when they doubled their advantage early in the second half. A free-kick from about twenty-five yards out saw Purcell step up and add to his growing tally for the season. He was aided though by a deflection off Talbot. The ball clipped the former Luton Town player and it was enough to beat Tommy Lee in the Chesterfield goal.

Gary Madine fired widely off target for the visitors as they tried to respond. On sixty-one minutes Purcell played in Diop with a nice ball as his strike partner shot wide of the mark. Shortly afterwards Gary Dempsey was bought off in place of Gary Smith with a little over twenty-minutes left. Darlington's lead however was looking unassailable by this point though. Ten minutes later however Chesterfield were launching a fightback as Darlington's good work was undone.

On seventy-minutes a cross-field pass found Simon Whalley. The ball sat up invitingly for the player and he struck the ball under the body of Redmond who perhaps could have done better. Two minutes later and the visitors were level. A brilliant effort by Talbot saw him lob the Darlington keeper. Shortly afterwards Chesterfield got themselves in front as the transformation to the scoreline was complete - Byrne turning the ball into his own net as Quakers were left stunned.