Our six-match unbeaten run came to an end as we slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Chesterfield on Saturday evening.

We had the majority of the ball throughout the encounter and created the better opportunities, but were beaten in front of the BT Sport cameras courtesy of Gevaro Nepomuceno's strike shortly before the half-hour mark.

Neal Ardley made three changes to the side that progressed in the Emirates FA Cup with victory over Belper Town seven days ago. One of which was enforced, with Connell Rawlinson suffering a calf injury during the week and he was replaced by Zoumana Bakayogo as Damien McCrory moved into centre half alongside Ben Turner.

Richard Brindley regained his place on the right side of defence, while Mitch Rose also came back in to partner Michael Doyle in the middle of midfield. Dion Kelly-Evans and Regan Booty dropped to the bench.

Sean Shields had a shot deflected behind in the first real chance of the game after eight minutes and, within two, a well worked set piece almost led to the opener.

The winger took it and, after playing a one-two to change the angle, bent the ball into Kyle Wootton, who climbed highest to meet the delivery. His header looked goal-bound but a recovering defender got himself in the way before our hosts smuggled the ball behind. 

We were looking the more likely to make something happen, with Rose and Kristian Dennis both shooting off target from range as we probed for the game's opener.

On 23 minutes, Wootton went as close as anyone had. He spun his man with a fantastic turn after receiving the ball into his feet from Bakayogo and drove towards goal before checking back onto his right foot. He then tried to bend a shot around his man and into the far corner but narrowly missed the target.

Dennis called Shwan Jalal into action moments later after receiving the ball from Enzio Boldewijn inside the area. He struck low across goal but the keeper got down well to make the save and held on at the second attempt.

With 27 on the clock, Chesterfield took an undeserved lead. The home side had barely had a sniff until, on a rare foray forward, Scott Boden found space to cross from the right wing and pick out an unmarked Nepomuceno, who volleyed past Sam Slocombe at the back post. 

The goal did little to alter the pattern of the game and we continued to dominate possession and look the more likely to trouble the scorers next, but the final ball was lacking and much of the remaining period before the break passed by with little to note.

Just before one minute of added time was indicated, Chesterfield broke with pace as we pushed men forwards in search of an equaliser but Boden blazed high and wide, and we went into the break a goal behind. 

Attacking an away end packed out with 1,422 travelling supporters, we looked to restore parity early in the second period and Boldewijn had a shot well blocked before Brindley sent a long-range free-kick over within 10 minutes of the resumption. 

Joe Rowley capitalised on a loose pass from Bakayogo to drive down the Chesterfield right before shooting from just inside the area, but Turner had tracked him all the way and made a good block to divert the ball behind.

On 62 minutes, the Spireites thought they had doubled their lead when Will Evans headed a looping cross beyond Slocombe, but the flag was raised against their skipper.

As the hosts reacted to the decision, we launched an attack and Shields' cross found its way to Brindley beyond the back post, but his volley was deflected behind. Jalal did well to claim the resultant corner as McCrory tried to turn home.

The boss looked to his bench on 65 minutes and replaced Dennis and Bakayogo with Wes Thomas and Booty, who slotted in on the left side of defence. 

It was the man on the opposite side of the back four who was next to go close. When Boldewijn's 70th-minute cross was headed away, Brindley retrieved the ball and came inside onto his left foot to shoot and almost caught Jalal off-balance but he made a good save and held on, too.

Boldewijn saw a well-struck volley blocked after Rose's long throw was headed away but Chesterfield were proving difficult to break down and Ardley turned to his substitutes again with four to play, sending Nathan Tyson on for Shields and going for broke with three men up front.

Two minutes were added on, during which Tyson saw an effort deflected behind and Rose headed wide from a corner, but there was to be no equaliser and we lost for the first time since 21 September.