ANOTHER WIN IN THE BANKS FOR CHAMPIONS

OLLIE BANKS’ 89th minute winner in front of a record 10,000 crowd at the SMH Group Stadium ensured champions Chesterfield snatched victory over Maidenhead United in a rollercoaster affair.

Two goals in two firsthalf minutes from Liam Mandeville and Joe Quigley put Paul Cook’s men in control, only for the visitors to hit back with a quickfire double of their own, courtesy of Tristan Abrahams and Kevin Lokko

But Banks’ 25-yard drive was enough to cap off what has been an outstanding season for the Spireites.

“There’s a part of that game, especially the second half, that probably sums up the past few weeks,” Chesterfield’s assistant manager Danny Webb said.

“It’s just nice that we have finished with a win – albeit we’ve made it extremely hard for ourselves.

“We didn’t make it easy, did we? To do that lap of honour and to have all of the fans staying in, I thought was brilliant.”

The Spireites dominated early possession but it was Maidenhead who had the better chances.

Abrahams looked to catch Harry Tyrer out at his near post, but the goalkeeper calmly claimed the effort, and a wicked cross from Ashley Nathaniel-George found Reece Smith virtually unmarked on the penalty spot, only for the winger to put the chance over the crossbar.

However, on the half hour, the champions took the lead.

Quigley managed to make his way into the penalty area from the left side before sliding the ball to Mandeville, who guided his effort into the net.

Two minutes later, the lead was doubled – Armando Dobra providing for Quigley who lashed home from eight yards.

The half-time break rejuvenated Maidenhead and within seven minutes they had a route back into the game. Smith’s initial effort deflected into the path of Abrahams, who tapped home from close-range. And three minutes later, Alan Devonshire’s men were level when a free-kick was nodded on and defender Lokko beat Tyrer to the ball to power a header into the back of the net.

The Spireites had a Tom Naylor header ruled out and a close-range shot by Miguel Freckleton brilliantly kept out by Craig Ross.

Dobra almost lit up the SMH Group Stadium when he latched onto Quigley’s flick before cannoning his effort off the right-hand post.

But they managed to give the huge crowd a winning goal to cheer – substitute Banks setting his sights from distance and rifling the ball beyond the outstretched Ross.

Tyrer was forced to tip a sliced clearance by Freckleton around the post in added time but Chesterfield held on to give their postmatch lap of honour added verve as the champions waved a fond farewell to the National League.