The Silkmen pocketed the points thanks to a solitary effort from Gareth Evans five minutes before half time, and although Lee Richardson's men had been the dominant force before the goal they had been unable to make it count.

The victory was the fifth in ten games for Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander who was appointed in February with the aim of securing the club's League status.

Chesterfield's hopes of gaining a play-off slot came to an end the previous weekend when they were held 1-1 at Saltergate by Darlington.

Manager Lee Richardson wants his team to end the season with as many points as possible and the visitors kicked off with a new central defensive pairing of Janos Kovacs and Colin Hawkins, Aaron Downes warming the bench.

With skipper Peter Leven injured, Phil Picken took over the armband and was joined by Lloyd Kerry and Derek Niven in a three-man midfield while Graeme Owens, on loan from Middlesbrough, made his full debut.

A fourth-minute corner led to an early Chesterfield chance.

Hartley sent over the flag kick and Steve Fletcher made contact but his header was cleared off the line by Neil Ashton.

Jamie Ward has been on fire recently but after a knock-on from Fletcher his shot from 15 yards was saved by Jon Brain.

The Macc keeper also dealt with a header from Kovacs and on the half hour Owens also had a shot blocked by the home stopper.

Chesterfield fell behind in the 41 minute when the home team managed to get an effort on target for the first time.

A quickly-taken free kick was crossed low into the box by Ashton and Gareth Evans tucked it into the net from six yards out.

Conceding a goal was the last thing the Chesterfield manager wanted and a double substitution was made at the start of the second half.

David Dowson and Gregor Robertson were introduced, replacing Niven and Kovacs.

Richardson made another change to his team when veteran striker Bruce Dyer came on for Fletcher but the nearest the second half came to yielding a goal came with around ten minutes remaining.

Evans was hoping for a second but Barry Roche made sure the effort was kept out of the net.

The result guaranteed League Two football for the hosts next season but Chesterfield's 15th league defeat will have left Richardson pondering what might have been.

Macclesfield: Brain, Hessey, Dimech, Walker, Ashton, Izak Reid, Dunfield, Tolley, Thomas (Jennings 89), Gritton (Green 65), Evans (Symes 89). Subs not used: Rooney, Brisley. Booked: Gritton.

Chesterfield: Roche, Lowry, Kovacs (Robertson 46), Hawkins, Hartley, Picken, Niven (Dowson 46), Kerry, Ward, Owens, Fletcher (Dyer 68). Subs not used: Downes, Algar. Booked: Kovacs.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rultand).

Attendance: 2,573.