Shrewsbury: Garner, Herd, Kempson, Langmead, Murdock, Humphrey (Tierney 67), Drummond, Hunt, Ashton, Hibbert, Symes (Nicholson 51).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hall, Esson.
Booked: Herd.
Goals: Hibbert 5, Murdock 68.
Chesterfield: Roche, Picken, Kovacs, Downes, Robertson, Lowry, Niven, Winter (O'Hare 78), Bastians (Ward 65), Lester, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Jackson, Jordan, Allison.
Booked: Ward, Lester.
Goals: Rooney 44, Lowry 49, Lester 65 pen.
Att: 5,143 (543)
Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).
Assistants: W Barratt, P Graham
Fourth Official: S Barrow
Gary Peters makes the one change with Chris Humphrey coming into replace Darren Moss, whose wife is expecting a baby.
It was a bright start from Town as they looked to get at the visitors from the first whistle and should have been in front after 3-minutes. A Town corner broke down with the ball cleared to Ashton, he looped in a high ball to find Hibbert on the edge of the box who brought the ball down for Drummond, he hit a first shot in that flew just wide of the target.
Minutes later Town were in front, David Hunt put across another powerful throw to find Kempson, he brought the ball down to find Dave Hibbert in space and he drove a shot back across goal that beat Barry Roche to give Town an early lead.
The visitors were looking to get back into the game and looked dangerous on the break. When Niven picked the ball up inside his own half he started a run towards the Town goal, the home defence were backing off and this gave Niven room to continue, in the Herd checked his run and the ball went to Bastians who curled in a decent low shot bit Garner was equal to it.
Town were getting some good possession around the Chesterfield box and a lot of that was from David Hunt's throws, another one was slung into the Chesterfield box and eventually dropped to Drummond on the edge of the box, he hit a sweet first time volley but it was straight at Roche who gratefully hung onto the ball.
Jack Lester was having an excellent game for the visitors and was covering a lot of ground to make them tick, he was comfortable on the ball and helped to play some great football, a lovely one two on the edge of the Town box out Lester clean in on goal until Kempson slid in with a superb block just as Lester shot.
It was a pretty even game for long periods of the game with both sides playing a direct pressure game, with both having good periods of pressure but not really testing each of the keepers.
Chesterfield had a good chance to get on level terms after another excellent ball from Bastians found Lester in between the Town defence, he brought the ball down to make space, turned Kempson but the Town defender recovered well to get in another good block to deny Chesterfield.
The visitors got onto level terms on 44-minutes when another decent attack didn't seem to be too much danger for Town, but a clearance deflected and then dropped to Adam Rooney on the edge of the box, he found a tiny bit of space and drove in a low drive that sneaked in at the base of the post.
Half-time: 1-1
Chesterfield got off to a great start after a good ball through found Adam Rooney challenging with Langmead, Rooney managed to get goal side of Langmead which meant the Town defender couldn't get in a strong challenge, Rooney then pulled the ball back into the run of Jamie Lowry who smashed the ball past Garner to make it 2-1.
With only 5-minutes of the half gone Gary Peters made his first change brining on Stuart Nicholson to replace Michael Symes.
There was a scary moment for Ben Herd when a huge clearance from Chesterfield found him and Jack Lester both watching the hanging ball, when it dropped to Lester Herd clattered into the Chesterfield forward to send him flying, there were calls for the red card from the travelling fans but with Murdock and Kempson back covering it was only a yellow for Herd.
Chesterfield grabbed a third goal after a contentious decisions from ref Mathieson to award the visitors a penalty after Langmead and Lester tussled in the box, both went to ground but the ref had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot. It was Lester who placed the ball and he chipped the ball over Garner who had dived to his right early.
Gary Peters then made his second switch with Marc Tierney coming on to replace Chris Humphrey, Tierney slotted in on the left, Murdock dropped into the heart of the defence and Langmead pushed up front.
The work paid dividends straight away after Nicholson won a free-kick just outside the visitors area, David Hunt put over a great ball and there was Colin Murdock with a downward header that beat Roche to make the score 2-1.
There was a hold up in the game for a good 5-minutes when Drummond and Jamie Winter challenged, Winter caught Drummond late and both went to ground, the Town skipper was quickly up but worryingly Winter stayed down. After prolonged treatment from the physios and medical staff Winter was carried from the pitch and replaced by Alan O'Hare.
Town were now pushing for the equaliser and another great throw delivered from Hunt dropped on the edge of the box, it dropped in front of Ashton who drilled in a great drive which flew just wide of the target.
Town had a superb chance to go level when Chesterfield gave away another free-kick in a dangerous area. David Hunt delivered in a superb curled ball and there was Stewart Drummond with a free header which he got down but it flew just wide of the target at the far post.
The fourth official held up the board to show the injury time which somehow showed 6-minutes, even though the injury to Winter had gone on much longer than 6-minutes and several substitutions had taken place in the half.
Town were still pushing and the addition of Langmead to the forward line had seen the ball stick much better, chances were dropping but the luck wasn't with Town and this was highlighted when an attack saw the ball drop to Ashton on the edge of the box, he drilled in a shot which took a deflection that left Roche rooted to the spot but the ball dropped wide of the post.
Full-time: 2-3
