Chesterfield produced a second-half comeback to emerge 3-1 victors at the Technique Stadium.
Elisha Sam had opened the scoring with a beautiful finish late in a closely-contested first half which had been played out amid a fantastic atmosphere.
But, after the break, Laurence Maguire scored twice to put his side ahead before Akwasi Asante made sure of the points with a late penalty.
There were two changes from the side that earned a convincing win over Woking at the weekend, with Cal Roberts returning to the starting line-up in place of Aaron Nemane and the injured Ed Francis making way for Frank Vincent.
Chesterfield claimed the first chance of the game when the ball rolled to Jim Kellermann just outside the area only for the Spireite to send his shot well over the bar.
We responded on 17 minutes when Cal Roberts brilliantly backheeled Jayden Richardson into space down the right. The full back’s excellent cross was headed goalwards by Sam but former Magpie Scott Loach got down to make the save.
The hosts were forced into an early change on 23 minutes when Alex Whittle, who’d earlier received treatment – and a booking – following a mistimed challenge on Vincent hobbled off to be replaced by Joe Quigley.
It was proving to be an even and cagey first half but, after Jamie Grimes had headed a free-kick over the bar, we took the lead in stunning style through Sam.
The Belgian was played into the left-hand channel by Matt Palmer and, after cutting abruptly on to his right foot, he curled the ball into the far corner to send the 1,793 travelling fans wild.
There was a flurry of chances for both sides before the break with Vitezslav Jaros saving Grimes’ snapshot, Ruben Rodrigues seeing a flicked effort saved and Roberts having a goalbound effort headed to safety by a defender before the referee called time.
We emerged for the second half unchanged and made a bright start with Vincent sending a first-time shot over from just outside the area.
The hosts then forced Jaros into a couple of saves before Burchnall replaced Vincent with Zak Brunt shortly before the hour.
There was nothing Brunt could do, however, to prevent the hosts restoring parity moments later as Maguire rose highest at the back post to head his side back on terms.
Rodrigues had a good chance to put as back in front almost immediately, receiving the ball from Roberts and controlling it well on the bobbly surface before seeing his shot blocked by a sprawling defender.
We were enjoying a good spell of control and had another half chance when we released Richardson to the byline only for his dangerous low cross to be turned behind by a defender.
Wootton made way for Mitchell and the tiring Sam was replaced by Nemane as the clock ticked down towards full-time, with the game looking destined to end level after Jaros made saves from Joe Rowley and Jeff King.
But, with four minutes of added time remaining, Maguire bagged his second when he forced the ball home from a corner – a goal which was shortly followed up by Asante’s penalty after Richard Brindley was deemed to have tripped Liam Mandeville in the area following a breakaway.
Inside five added minutes Kyle Cameron escaped his marker to head Palmer’s free-kick goalwards, forcing a good save from Loach.
But there was to be no further opportunities to reduce the deficit as we suffered a disappointing defeat.
STARTING XI: Jaros; Chicksen, Cameron, Brindley, Richardson; Palmer, Vincent (Brunt 58'), Rodrigues; Sam (Nemane 85'), Roberts, Wootton (Mitchell 81')
SUBS: Rawlinson, Kelly-Evans
BOOKINGS: Cameron 63'
ATTENDANCE: 7,912 (1,793)