CHESTERFIELD 1 HARRIERS 0

JAN Molby's side felt the force of Chesterfield's reaction to recent investigations into financial irregularities.

The vast majority of the charges against the leaders could not be proved and the Derbyshire side ended with a nine-point reduction and £20,000 fine.

However, they are to appeal against the decision and Saturday's impressive performance was very much an indication of their feelings after a run of four games without a win.

The visitors, backed by a good vocal away support, were not short of effort but they just could not match their lively opponents.

Despite an ambitious attacking formation, Harriers rarely got anywhere near keeper Mike Pollitt and there could have been many more goals in the first half.

Sheer luck on Harriers' part was often keeping the promotion hopefuls at bay but that vanished in first-half injury-time.

Keeper Tim Clarke went for Rob Edwards' right-wing corner at his near post but Steve Blatherwick was there first and striker Luke Beckett stabbed home the big defender's goal-bound header.

In the second half, only Andy Ducros' 20-yard free-kick came close to giving Harriers an unlikely equaliser.

Pollitt tipped the effort over the bar but the ball was arguably heading in that direction anyway.

Chesterfield's goal was no more than they deserved with tricky right-sided midfielder Ryan Williams asking plenty of questions and Beckett a nuisance.

Williams gave Ian Clarkson a tough time as he filled in for the suspended Scott Stamps at left-back.

After Beckett shot wide on nine minutes, he should have done better moments later, striking the woodwork from six yards.

Williams was also off-target as Chesterfield's finishing failed to match that of a league leader.

But the same could not be said about the rest of their game. Nicky Law's dominant team were unlucky on 22 minutes when Marcus Ebdon rattled the bar.

Harriers received the first of three bookings 11 minutes later when Andy Corbett accidentally caught Blatherwick with his elbow.

Blatherwick was off the field for nine minutes but Harriers could not capitalise and their opponents finally broke the deadlock.

But the visitors were still in with a chance after Clarke saved well at Beckett's feet and then comfortably held an Edwards header.

However, Harriers never really threatened to grab the equaliser their army of followers deserved.

SHOTS ON TARGET

Chesterfield 3 Harriers 1

CORNERS

Chesterfield 7 Harriers 2

BOOKINGS

Chesterfield 1 (Edwards)

Harriers 3 (Corbett, Clarkson, Hadley)

ATTENDANCE: 4,495

LINE-UPS

CHESTERFIELD (3-5-2): Pollitt 6; Blatherwick 7, Breckin 7, Payne 6; R Williams 8, Ebdon 7, Richardson 7, Ingledow 7, Edwards 7; Reeves 7, Beckett 8. Subs: Armstrong, Beaumont, D Williams, Howard, Willis (Reeves 79) 6.

HARRIERS (4-3-3): Clarke 5; HINTON 7, Shail 7, Smith 7, Clarkson 6; Medou-Otye 5, Webb 5, Ducros 6; Hadley 5, Durnin 5, Corbett 6. Subs: Brock, Bennett (Durnin 56) 6, Skovbjerg (Corbett 56) 6, MacKenzie, Doyle (Webb 84) 6.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN

CRAIG HINTON

Barely put a foot wrong at right-back in a spirited performance from Harriers' defence. There was a tremendous amount of pressure as the league leaders dominated.