It may ultimately have been a disappointing campaign – with high expectations of reaching the League Two play-offs coming to nought – but the anti-clockwise tour of the Saltergate pitch brought the curtain down in a dignified manner.

Nobody was more disappointed than Richardson that the Spireites finished seventh, nine points shy of the sixth-placed team, and the manager deserves credit for sticking close to the touchline and applauding supporters for their contribution.

It was a match that in many ways encapulated Chesterfield's season.

In the first half they were well on top and created a series of genuine chances but were not able to make their dominance count.

Then out of the blue, seconds before half time, County took the lead through Spencer Weir-Daley with their first effort on target.

Top scorer Jack Lester put the home side on terms on the hour mark before Lloyd Kerry had a volley slam against the bar but they were unable to bag a second goal and sign off with a victory.

Lester and fellow striker Jamie Ward combined to provide skipper Peter Leven with the first opening in the fourth minute.

The passing pulled the Notts defence out of kilter and left Leven with just Russell Hoult to beat. If he had placed the ball either side of the keeper, it would have been 1-0 but Leven hit it straight at Hoult who was able to block the effort.

Leven came close again when his 25-yard free kick was kept out by a diving save and Hoult came to the rescue for the third time in the 26th minute following a deep Graeme Owens cross from the left flank after a corner.

Janos Kovaks headed it back into the danger zone and Lester unselfishly set up Aaron Downes who made a good contact from close range only to be denied by Hoult.

A spectacular Kerry overhead kick was headed off the Notts line by Mike Edwards with Hoult stranded but right at the end of the opening 45 minutes, the visitors took a surprise lead.

It stemmed from a wrongly awarded throw-in but Downes should have done better when Weir-Daley took possession.

The Chesterfield centre back was unable to put off the County man who bundled the ball past keeper Barry Roche and over the line.

Chesterfield got on terms in the 59th minute when Leven lifted a high ball over the Notts rearguard to Lester who shrugged off a challenge from Michael Johnson and turned it past Hoult from close range.


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