Rochdale exited the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night after falling to a 3-0 defeat against Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium.
Goals from Ollie Banks and Armand Gnanduillet ensured victory for the Spireites.
Manager Keith Hill made three changes for the match, with Javan Vidal, Matty Done and Gary Dicker starting ahead of Joe Rafferty, Michael Rose and Matty Lund.
The home side started brightly and enjoyed plenty of opportunities during the opening exchanges, without putting ‘keeper Josh Lillis under too much pressure.
Long range efforts were the order of the opening ten minutes as the Spireites looked to grab and early goal.
With six minutes played Ollie Banks struck from 30 yards, but his powerful effort went narrowly wide of the upright. Sixty seconds later, Jimmy Ryan tried his luck from the half way line after spotting Lillis off his line. He attempted to lob the goalkeeper and came close to doing so as his effort dropped just over the bar.
In the ninth minute Talbot forced Lillis to be alert as he sent a cross-come-shot in on goal from long range. The ‘keeper tipped it up and over the bar as he directed it away from the top corner.
The early Spireites pressure waned for a time, meaning a lull in play for a spell.
While the home side were not showing the same threat as they had done during the first quarter of an hour, Dale were unable to find the attacking prowess needed to break the deadlock as opportunities for the visitors remained at a premium.
After a relatively even spell where neither team were creating in front of goal, Chesterfield enjoyed a brief spell of pressure towards the end of the half, and netted before the interval.
minute, Banks attempted to chip Lillis from the edge of the area but watched on as his effort dipped just over the bar. thIn the 39
And it was Banks who opened the scoring during stoppage time. He headed home after getting on the end of a Roberts cross into the area.
GOAL: CHESTERFIELD 1-0 Rochdale (Banks, 45)
HT: Chesterfield 1-0 Rochdale
There were no changes to the Dale eleven at the interval as Manager Keith Hill stayed as was for the start of the second half, but there was a change in formation as he switched from a 3-2-4-1 formation to a 4-3-3.
It made for an end to end and entertaining start to the half as Dale searched for an equaliser and Chesterfield attempted to double their advantage.
The home side started the half as they had finished the previous 45 minutes, and threatened the Dale goal with minutes of the re-start.
Banks firstly fired narrowly wide from inside the area, before Gnanduillet sent his long range past the post.
Rochdale looked more attacking during the opening exchanges and had opportunities to find the goal which would draw them level.
minute, Rochdale had a goal disallowed after much deliberation between the referee and the linesman.rdIn the 53
Ian Henderson had found the back of the net with what looked like a perfectly onside effort, but there was confusion as the referee awarded the goal and his official had raised his flag. Much to Henderson’s disbelief, the goal was disallowed.
Four minutes later and Henderson was denied again, this time by the post.
Chesterfield had chances too and immediately after Henderson was kept out by the woodwork, Robert broke on the attack and tried to curl a shot past Lillis after cutting inside. The effort was just wide of the upright.
Shortly after the hour Rose and Hogan both had chances. Rose’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked and sent out for a corner and it was from the resulting set piece that Hogan failed to convert. Rose had tested Lee with an effort from the corner, and after the ‘keeper spilled, it fell as the feet of Hogan who could only send his shot over the bar.
The home side began to enjoy a spell of pressure and as they found space on the right hand side of play through Roberts, they went onto add to their advantage.
Roberts broke and delivered the ball into the box for Gnanduilet who fired beyond Lillis.
GOAL: CHESTERFIELD 2-0 Rochdale (Gnanduillet, 73 minute)
And they extended their lead further six minutes later through Banks who netted his second of the night.
Roberts broke from midfield and slotted in Banks who made no mistake in sending the ball beyond Lilliis.
GOAL: CHESTERFIELD 3-0 ROCHDALE (Banks, 79 minutes)
Henderson had an opportunity to pull one back for Dale in stoppage time, but ‘keeper Lee parried the effort behind.
It finished Chesterfield 3, Rochdale 0.