A FIRST HALF goal from Martin Gritton saw the Shrimps fall to a poor home defeat against their play-off rivals.

After a slow start Gritton gave Chesterfield the lead in the 17th minute when he flung himself in front of Dave Artell to head Barry Conlon's cross past Barry Roche.

The Shrimps hit back and should have levelled almost immediately but Wayne Curtis missed the target from six yards out when he looked certain to score from Michael Twiss's left wing cross.

The Spireites almost added a second five minutes later when Conlon was left in space again in the area and produced a fine overhead kick which beat Roche but came back off the post.

The Shrimps then hit the post themselves through a superb Phil Jevons drive before Chesterfield were reduced to 10 men on 43 minutes when Frankie Artus saw red for a second bookable offence after a high tackle on Craig Stanley.

Unfortunately the Shrimps failed to take advantage in the second half despite a stinging effort from Craig Stanley which cannoned off the crossbar. They failed to test Tommy Lee until the final moments of the game when Will Haining saw a shot well saved.

Boss Sammy McIlroy sticks with the same side that drew 2-2 with Macclesfield in midweek for the visit of Chesterfield.

The only change comes on the bench with Paul Mullin on the bench after coming through an outing in the Reserves team in midweek.

Morecambe: Roche; Parrish, Artell, Haining, Adams; Stanley, Drummond, Duffy, Curtis; Twiss, Jevons. Subs: Davies, Wainwright, Moss, Bentley, Mullin, Hunter.

Chesterfield: Lee; Gray, Page, Breckin, Downes, Goodhall; Green, Allott, Artus; Conlon, Gritton. Crossley, Austin, Niven, Harsley, Hall, Boden, Clay.

Ref: N Miller.