Chesterfield dent Notts County’s automatic promotion hopes

Posted Sunday, March 25, 2018 by PA

Notts County’s automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow when they were beaten 3-1 at relegation-threatened Chesterfield.

Sid Nelson and Zavon Hines’s first goal for the club put Chesterfield in control and although Dan Jones replied with a late free kick, Kristian Dennis settled it with a stoppage time penalty.

Chesterfield went ahead in the 16th minute when Andy Kellett’s corner was touched on by Drew Talbot and Nelson chested the ball past Adam Collin from four yards.

The visitors had a great chance in the 38th minute but Elliott Hewitt put a free header wide from eight yards and Chesterfield went further ahead a minute later.

Kristian Dennis had a shot blocked and the ball fell to Hinds who drove it past Collin from 12 yards.

Chesterfield went close again in the 48th minute when Alex Whitmore headed a corner just wide from 12 yards but although County had created little, they scored in the 85th minute when Jones’s free kick from out on the right went straight in.

With nine minutes added on, County had a chance but when Kellett broke clear he was tripped by Andy Tootle and Dennis coolly converted the penalty to seal an impressive victory.