THE Blues were downed by Chesterfield’s super subs at the Deva Stadium this afternoon.

Spireites boss Lee Richardson was subjected to chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” from his team’s travelling fans when he threw on Jamie Winter and Martin Gritton with 20 minutes to go. But Richardson had the last laugh as the pair scored late goals to take the game away from the battling hosts.

The Spireites started and finished the match strongly. They hit their stride quickly, and City keeper John Danby had to be alert to save Jack Lester’s low third-minute shot with his legs.

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Chester responded with a chance soon after, James Vaughan hitting the base of the post with a deflected 25-yard drive. The Blues were slowly finding their feet and on 17 minutes Kevin Ellison sent a diving header just over the crossbar from Vaughan’s right-wing cross.

Chesterfield should have taken the lead on 26 minutes when Danby raced out of his goal, only to be beaten to the ball by Jamie Ward. The livewire striker advanced into the box but sent his shot from a tight angle across the face of the goal.

Four minutes later, the Spireites were handed the lead on a plate by Laurence Wilson. The City left-back netted a disastrous own goal, heading unchallenged past Danby from Gregor Robertson’s corner kick.

The Blues were unlucky to be behind and they had strong claims for a penalty turned down when Ryan Lowe looked to be tripped in the area by Dan Gray.

Just seven minutes into the second half, the hosts deservedly drew level. Anthony Barry slipped the ball out wide to Mark Hughes, and the midfielder’s cross from the left was expertly headed into the back of the net by Damien Mozika.

With a strong wind at their backs, Chester pressed on in search of a second. Lowe shot wide when he raced through just after the hour mark, and Hughes, who had a superb game, flashed a header narrowly past the post.

Chesterfield went ahead against the run of play 13 minutes from time. Sub Winter picked up the ball in midfield and sent a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.

City’s hopes of getting back into the contest were dealt a fatal blow on 83 minutes when the visitors went 3-1 up. Lloyd Kerry’s long-range drive took a wicked deflection and looped to the far post, where Gritton – who looked to be in an offside position – bundled the ball home.

Late in the game, Chester boss Mark Wright handed a debut to teenager Ben Jones, who came on for Richie Partridge. The 16-year-old striker from Wrexham is a first-year scholar in Chester’s youth set-up.

He flashed a header just wide but had no time to make much of an impact as the visitors pocketed all three points.

Chester: Danby, J Vaughan, Linwood, Roberts, Wilson, Barry, Mozika, Hughes, Ellison, Lowe, Partridge (Jones 86). Subs: Rutherford, Harris, Platt, Rule. Booked: Linwood. Goal: Mozika 52.

Chesterfield: Lee, Gray (Winter 69), Hall, Downes, Austin, Till (Gritton 69), Lowry, Kerry, Robertson, Ward, Lester. Subs: Currie, Goodall, Boden. Goals: Wilson (og) 30, Winter 77, Gritton 83.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Attendance: 1,806 (371 away).