'Was there a message there?' - player ratings from Chesterfield's draw with Colchester United

Domination, then frustration.

It’s been a familiar tale for Chesterfield this season and it was repeated in the 1-1 home draw with Colchester United.

Some sparkling football, the high of Dilan Markanday’s waspish opener and then the downer of an out-of-the-blue equaliser.

While the Spireites sometimes wanted to score the perfect goal, that leveller was a cross met with a header near the back stick. Such is life.

The end result shouldn’t take the shine off some good performances in the home ranks.

Here are our ratings:

Ryan Boot 6: Mark reflects the fact he had little to do. Left exposed for the goal.

Remeao Hutton 7: More like his usual self after a quiet game by his standards at Port Vale. Plenty of go-forward, although Ben Perry did steal in behind him to head Colchester’s equaliser.

Alfie Pond 8: Only his second league start. Calm, composed and strong when he needed to be. Given the manager a selection poser for Saturday. Man of the Match.

Jack Simpson 7: The player who’s place seemed most under threat was handed the captain’s armband by Paul Cook. Was there a message there? One miss-placed pass apart, the centre-back had a good game.

Lewis Gordon 7: Playing on a booking fairly early on but like all the back four he did his bit to give Chesterfield a defensive platform to go and try and win.

Ryan Stirk 7: Kept the team ticking, used the ball intelligently. Would like him to have a pop at goal more often.

George McEachran 7: Similar to Stirk.

Dilan Markanday 8: Worth it for a fine first half. In the middle of all the near misses, good to see him just take aim and thrash the ball into the far corner. His fourth goal of the season - half as many as he got in the whole of last season.

Louie Marsh 7: Borderline 8. Hit the bar, showed some deft touches. No goal again but great to watch.

Josh Koroma 6: In for the injured Joel Randall, worked hard but not much fell him.

Lee Bonis 7: A lurking threat all night and twice teed-up Marsh in good positions. Emptied the tank before he was subbed after 69 minutes.

Substitutes: Tom Naylor for Marsh (69) 6: One of the four-strong clutch of subs introduced for the last 20 minutes.

Dylan Duffy for Markanday (69) 6: First taste of league action in nearly six months. Will do him good.

Kiano Dyer for McEachran (69) 6: Talented Chelsea kid looked after the ball when he had it without getting the chance to really do his stuff.

Liam Mandeville for Koroma (69) 6: Slotted in, linked the play and kept the ball moving as Chesterfield looked in vain for a second goal.

Fraser Bryden for Bonis (84) N/A