Bonis at the double as Spireites boost play-off push

THERE was sunshine and smiles as Chesterfield took a big step towards the League Two play-offs at the expense of Crewe Alexandra.

Striker Lee Bonis’ 15th and 16th goals of the season were enough to seal a 2-0 win at the SMH Group Stadium and take the Spireites back into the top seven with one game of the regular season to go.

Main man: Lee Bonis gets a pat on the back from Dilan Markanday after his double against Crewe. Picture by Brian Eyre

placeholder image — Main man: Lee Bonis gets a pat on the back from Dilan Markanday after his double against Crewe. Picture by Brian Eyre

A point away to Swindon Town will guarantee a place in the end-of-season shoot-out for Paul Cook’s men for the second successive year.

There were two great receptions from the home crowd prior to kick-off, first for Chesterfield FC Women’s league and cup double winners and then for Tyrone Williams, who has announced his retirement from playing after four years as a Spireite.

Kyle McFadzean gets a pass away in Chesterfield's defeat of Crewe. Pictures by Brian Eyre

Chesterfield served early warning of their intentions when Liam Mandeville and Bonis demanded good saves from Ian Lawlor.

In the Crewe line-up was Emre Tezgel, scorer of four goals against the Spireites ready this season. He rippled the side netting and had an effort ruled out for offside before Bonis struck on 36 minutes, bundling in Mandeville’s ball in from close range.

Chesterfield were zipping the ball around nicely and the damage could have been great but for the agility of Lawlor in keeping out a low drive from Dilan Markanday.

The half time break seemed to suit the visitors.

The Spireites lost their earlier rhythm and Crewe were seeing much more of the ball.

They thought they’d equalised on the hour when Tezgel’s looping header looked destined for the top corner only to cannon back off the crossbar.

The growing tension was lifted on 68 minutes.

Bonus was sprung clear and kept his head to lift the ball over the advancing Lawlor and in.

The goal settled the home side and deflated Crewe.

Armando Dobra’s curler was inches wide away from making it 3-0 and the hosts were able to close the game out with little fuss in front of a buoyant crowd.

The scene is now set for a cracker at the County Ground next Saturday against Swindon and a winner-takes-all battle for a play-off berth.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Boot; Curtis, McFadzean, Swinkels, Gordon; Stirk, Braybrooke; Markanday, Mandeville, Dobra; Bonis

Subs: Naylor, Grigg, Fleck, Dickinson, Berry, Donacien, Pearce

Crewe (4-3-2-1): Lawlor; Billington, Pond, Demetrio, Hutchinson; Thomas, Powell; O’Reilly, Holicek, March; Tezgel

Subs: Booth, Tracey, Finney, Rankine, Thibaut, Dancey, Moore

Referee: James Bell

Attendance: 9,560