Salford City’s unbeaten run came to an end as a late own goal from Brandon Cooper gave Chesterfield a 1-0 win.
The Ammies were frustrated by the away side, who shut down Salford’s typically clinical attack, with clear-cut chances few and far between.
Ollie Turton had the chance of the match for Salford in the first half, as he found himself with a free header in the box, but he was denied by a brilliant save from Spireites keeper Zachary Hemming.
New signing Ryan Graydon could well have tripled his goal tally for the club, as he missed three big chances on a night where the hosts just couldn’t find the back of the net.
His best chance came on the hour mark as he somehow hit the crossbar from six yards out, before firing a snapshot just wide of the post ten minutes later.
The defining moment of the match came with virtually the last kick of the game, as Cooper turned into his own net via a teasing cross from Sam Curtis.
The game began steadily, with neither side able to get the ball on the surface and show their quality. Chesterfield pressed high during the early proceedings and a half-chance for Dylan Duffy followed, as he nodded over.
Salford finally began to get a foothold in the game on the half-hour mark as Turton, who scored an own goal in the reverse fixture, found himself free in the area, but he was denied by a brilliant save from Spireites keeper Hemming.
Hemming sprang into action again in first half added time, saving low to his near-post from a Luke Garbutt free-kick.
Graydon should have broken the deadlock just before the hour mark, as Turton fired across goal and found an open Graydon, who saw his effort cannon back off the crossbar from six yards out.
The Ammies had another big chance 10 minutes later, as Daniel Udoh skinned his former Shrewsbury teammate Chey Dunkley, before finding the side netting from a tight angle.
Graydon was denied again on 70 minutes, this time by the outstretched leg of Sil Swinkels, as the Villa loanee matched Graydon stride for stride before making a crucial block.
Another chance fell to the Irishman minutes later, as he fired just wide of the right post, before Haji Mnoga volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
Chesterfield finally found some second-half joy just before 80 minutes, as substitute Liam Mandeville’s effort sailed just over the bar of Matty Young’s goal.
Ryan Stirk had Young worried late on as his looping effort took an age to come down, eventually landing on the roof of the Salford net.
The winner came completely against the run of play, as Chesterfield showed some quality for the first time in the second half. The ball was neatly stroked around the edge of the box, before working its way to right-back Curtis, whose teasing cross was unfortunately turned in by Cooper.
The result leaves Salford fourth in League Two, with promotion rivals MK Dons, Cambridge United and Notts County all winning on the night.
The Ammies face a trip to Merseyside to face Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, with the game getting underway at 3pm at Prenton Park.
