'I learnt a lot' - James Rowe gives his verdict on Chesterfield's penalty shootout win against Brackley Town in FA Trophy

The Spireites controlled the game throughout but were not clinical enough in front of goal as Liam Mandeville, Scott Boden and Tom Whelan all went close.

The Blues could not find a way through a well organised Brackley defence after the break and it went to penalties.

Boden and Jak McCourt both saw their penalties saved in the shoot-out but Town goalkeeper Kyle Letheren kept two out and Tre Mitford fired one over the bar for Brackley.

“In the first half we had enough opportunities to score,” Rowe said. “We were not ruthless enough today but I was really pleased with the build-up play.

“We have got to be better at breaking down the two banks of four in the second half.

“I learnt a lot today. There were a lot of positives, again, and a few things we need to work on.

“The real pleasing thing is zero goals against us again and they did not really look like scoring. They had one shot on target all game. If you continue to do that we are going to go places.

“We should win that comfortably but we have done our job - we have got through.

“It is four wins out of five and we have got to be positive."

Chesterfield’s top scorer Tom Denton missed out on a place in the matchday squad due to injury.

"His knee inflamed from the Sutton game on the 4G pitch but he will be okay hopefully for Tuesday,” Rowe said. “We are just monitoring that one. It has gone right down now. We took a little bit of a risk him coming on against Barnet and it inflamed again so we have got to be careful with that one.”

Mandeville and Jonathan Smith came into the starting line-up. On their performances, Rowe added: “The final bit was not there today for Liam. He got in some good positions, it was just his final bit, which needed to be better. Smith’s work-rate speaks for itself. He ran himself into the ground.”