Zach Hemming the hero as Chesterfield earn valuable point at Oldham Athletic

It looked like Spireites were going to be undone by former forward Kane Drummond after he dragged Oldham level early in the second half.

Drummond, who had a brief spell with Chesterfield in 2024, then won a penalty in injury-time after getting the wrong side of Kyle McFadzean - a foul which saw the defender receive his marching orders..

But Hemming guessed right to stunningly beat Joe Garder’s to safety.

Spireites had led at the break following a good finish from Adam Lewis midway through the half.

But the visitors were unable to kick on with the opener sparking a decent response from the Latics.

That fightback should have brought an equaliser with Chesterfield counting their luck after Joe Quigley badly fluffed his lines.

But Oldham came out strongest after the break and capitalised on that good spell of possession through Drummond’s cracker.

Spireites, who were themselves denied by two good second half saves, were forced to dig deep in the closing stages to come away with a valuable point.

Spireites announced the arrivals of defender Malik Owolabi-Belewu and striker Freddie Ladapo on free transfers ahead of the game, though neither were registered to take to the Boundary Park pitch.

But Will Grigg did feature and made his 100th Spireites appearance in the process.

James Berry curled an effort not far wide from the edge of the box during a solid opening ten minutes from the visitors.

Tom Pett blazed well wide for the Latics on 15 minutes after he found space just outside the box.

Lewis brilliantly picked out the bottom corner to put Spireites ahead on 21 minutes after Berry rolled the ball into his path.

Quigley should have levelled 12 minutes later when he somehow fired wide from four yards out after Pett’s cross opened up the Chesterfield defence.

Jamie Robson headed wide from a Ryan Woods corner as Oldham continued to put Spireites under pressure before the break.

Former Spireite Drummond was brought on by the hosts on 52 minutes to replace the injured Kian Harratt.

And he had an immediate impact after smashing Oldham level seven minutes later with an emphatic first-time finish.

Hudson made an excellent low save to deny Berry midway through the half.

The Oldham keeper made another good stop to keep out Liam Mandeville’s deflected shot on 76 minutes.

Spireites survived a real scare in stoppage-time when McFadzean was shown a red card after a last man challenge on Drummond in the box.

But Zach Hemming stepped up with a stunning full-stretch save to keep out Joe Garner’s spot-kick.

Oldham: Hudson, Ogle, Pett, Daniels, Monthe, Woods, Quigley, Hannant (Garner 70)), Harratt (Drummond 52), Robson, Payne.

Subs: Donaghy, Sutton, Morris, Caprice, Hammond

Chesterfield: Hemming, Daley-Campbell, McFadzean, Donacien (Duffy 80), Lewis (Fleck 80), Naylor, Stirk (Butterfield 89), Mandeville, Darcy (Dickson 81), Berry, Grigg (Bonis 75).

Subs: Boot, Tanton.

Att: 8853 (1440 away)

Ref: Sam Allison

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