Chesterfield kept their play-off challenge alive with a 2-1 home win over Port Vale.

Spireites close on play-off places

Jack Lester helped himself to a slice of history when his second-half double kept up Chesterfield's play-off challenge following a 2-1 home win over Port Vale. The striker became the first Spireites player for 80 years to score 20 goals in consecutive seasons but Vale put up brave resistance. Joe Anyon had kept Vale in the game by saving from Danny Hall and Lester but he was carried off on a stretcher in the 38th minute after a collision with Drew Talbot. The Chesterfield striker was able to continue after lengthy treatment and he went close just before half-time with a shot from the edge of the box that swerved just wide. Vale were rescued by the woodwork in the 50th minute when a 20-yard shot from Lewis Montrose came back off the bar with Chris Martin beaten. But Lester struck in the 68th minute and then scored with a deflected shot six minutes later but Paul Marshall's free-kick in the 76th minute set up a tense finish.