Billy Sharp's seventh goal of the season was enough to give Scunthorpe three valuable points at Saltergate. The victory lifts Brian Laws' team to ninth place in League One and a solitary point outside the play-off zone whilst Chesterfield stay in mid-table.
Sharp reacted quickest in the 12th minute to score from six yards after goalkeeper Barry Roche palmed out a low shot from Matt Sparrow. Chesterfield had plenty of possession and their best chance arrived when Derek Niven set up Colin Larkin, but his volley flew straight at Joe Murphy.
The visitors could then have doubled their lead but Cleveland Taylor fired wide. However, the Iron held on to continue their improvement.
In League Two last night, Lincoln's bid to go top was shattered at local rivals Boston where Francis Green scored on the hour to wreck their unblemished away record. The former Imps striker latched on to a Stewart Talbot pass and watched his 12-yard shot trickle into the net after squirming under Alan Marriott's left hand.
A bumper crowd of 4,327 witnessed this fierce local derby and Lincoln thought they had equalised within four minutes of Green's strike but Jamie Forrester's effort was ruled out for offside. The Imps threw the kitchen sink forward in search of a late leveller, but Boston held firm to beat their county rivals and move out of the bottom two.
Rochdale striker Chris Dagnall struck twice to cancel Wrexham's early lead and end their unbeaten home record. It took Dagnall's goal tally to four in as many days as Dale recorded their second away win inside a week. It contiued their climb up the League Two table whilst halting Wrexham's charge towards the play-off zone.
Rochdale were in command from the start but the Red Dragons took the lead against the run of play when John McAliskey headed down for Chris Llewellyn to score with a left-footer. After the break Gary Jones went on a mazy run before crossing for Dagnall to convert right-footed from close range.
Wrexham keeper Mike Ingham could only palm out Alan Goodall's fierce shot and Dagnall was on hand to score the winner 15 minutes from time. He was only denied his hat-trick by a blinding Ingham save and Llewellyn went even closer to an equaliser but Steve Parkin's men held on for a deserved win.
Finally, a brace of Richard Walker goals in the space of a minute gave Bristol Rovers a desperately-needed win against Hereford. The Bulls were looking comfortable after taking the lead in the 18th minute through Rob Purdie's penalty.
However, Walker had other ideas and volleyed an equaliser in the 66th minute efore netting from close range seconds later. Walker was only denied a hat-trick by the crossbar but the Pirates picked up three valuable points to give them breathing space in the basement.
