Darlington appeared to be heading for the break on level terms with Chesterfield. However two goals in the final ten minutes of the first half helped one of the division's best home sides to three points.
A David Perkins corner on thirty-six minutes saw skipper Rob Page score the first before Mark Allott drilled in a second at the start of stoppage time after Quakers had headed clear another flag kick. Quakers forced their way back into contention after the break with goals from James Collins before the game turned into a high scoring affair with Chesterfield cruelly adding two more at the death.
The half time score was somewhat harsh on Quakers who had successfully stifled their hosts to the point where the Saltergate crowd were starting to get a little frustrated. Steve Staunton's Darlington side limited Chesterfield's chances and made their opponents afternoon difficult. However two set-pieces with time running out in the first forty-five minutes ultimately put the game beyond Darlington.
Quakers handed a debut to Hogg. The Middlesbrough born midfielder joined the club on loan from Aston Villa whilst teenagers Curtis Main, who struck the winner against Burton Albion, and Corey Barnes continued to keep their place in the side. Meanwhile Nathan Mulligan moved to the bench as Darlington prepared for one of their toughest away trips of the season so far.
Darlington proved stubborn in the first half. The best Chesterfield could muster in the opening fifteen minutes was a cross from the left by Kieran Djilali, which failed to cause any problems at the far post, and a header from Wade Small which went straight into the waiting Nick Liversedge's arms. Darlington captain Steve Foster did well to get in the way of a pass between Jack Lester and Small as Liversedge collected.
At the opposite end Main headed down a long pass for Gary Smith to strike a shot wide from distance. It was a rare opening for Darlington in the first half but they were being successful in keeping a leash on the home wide. On twenty-one minutes Chesterfield did eventually manage to find a way through. The lively Djilali got in down the left and forced a good near post save from Liversedge.
The only time the visitors were really pushed onto the back foot came after thirty-six minutes when the hosts won a series of corner kicks. It was here that the Spireites got their noses in front. Page managed to get a foot to Perkins' corner kick to find the back of the net. Ten minutes later and Chesterfield doubled their lead. Another Perkins corner kick was sent into the area where it was cleared. Mark Allott though was on hand and he drilled the ball back through a packed penalty area and into the bottom corner. Lester though may well have been in an offside position for the goal. He appeared to raise his leg to let the ball go under it.
It was rough justice on Darlington. After the break the hosts went on to add three more goals but not until Quakers had given them a bit of a scare. Djalali sent a shot over the bar after some nice build up play four minutes after the break. A few minutes later and Page was denied a as the Chesterfield skipper saw a good header met by an equally good save by Liversedge. The Quakers keeper was well alert to push the ball over the bar for a corner kick.
On fifty-eight minutes Main made way for Collins and with virtually his first touch of the game had pulled a goal back for the visitors. Goalkeeper Tommy Lee came a long way out of his goal and handed possession to Collins after failing to control properly The on-loan Aston Villa player turned and found the net with a shot from all of thirty-five yards out.
The goal presented Darlington with a possible route back into the game. Winning though has become a habit this season for Chesterfield at Saltergate. Having recorded seven victories on home soil already this season they appeared well on their way to another one. Djalali added Chesterfield's third of the afternoon on sixty-seven minutes. Scott Boden then hit the bar as the game finished at a frantic pace.
Simon Thomas saw a an effort fall into the path of Jonathan Hogg as Darlington pulled another goal back to make it 3-2. Darlington's hopes of capturing what would have been a surprise point evaporated soon afterwards though as Boden scored twice in the final few minutes of the game to give the Spireites another three points at home.
