On-the-whistle report: Chesterfield 1 Rotherham United 2

All the goals came in the opening period of a scrappy encounter which saw a raft of substitutions from both teams.

Record signing Freddie Ladapo looked sharp for the Millers but kept failing to hit the target after running at the Spireites defence.

Rotherham took a 26th-minute lead when Dan Barlaser's cross from the right found its way into the net with a helping intervention from Chesterfield centre-half Anthony Gerrard.

They were in front for only four minutes, goalkeeper Lewis Price doing well to deny Joe Rowley's shot only for Will Evans to bury the rebound for the National League home side.

But they quickly restored their advantage, in the 33rd minute, as Michael Smith confidently sent a penalty into the bottom-left corner after Carlton Morris had been felled by Evans.

Striker Ladapo had a shot on the turn saved and put three efforts wide, after jinking runs, before the break.

Ladapo missed the target again in the second half and the Spireites came closest to scoring as substitute Jack McKay beat sub keeper Laurence Bilboe with a low shot that came back off the post.

Kyle Vassell, after his midweek hat-trick against Bradford Park Avenue, came off the bench and twice tested sub keeper Luke Coddington.

Trialist winger Brad Dockerty, who impressed Rotherham when he played against them for Bradford, was an unused sub.

Goals: Gerrard og 26, Smith pen 33 (Rotherham); Evans 30 (Chesterfield).

Chesterfield (3-5-2): Jalal (Coddington H-T); Hollis, Evans, Gerrard (Wedgbury 75); Smith (Yarney H-T), Buchanan (Sharman 75), Maguire (Shaw 75), Weston (Weir, H-T), Rowley (McKay 61); Boden (Wakefield 75), Mandeville (Sheridan 75).

Rotherham (4-3-3): Bilboe (H-T); Jones, Ihiekwe, Wood, Mattock (Robertson 63); Wiles (Crooks 63), MacDonald (Olosunde 72), Barlaser; Morris (Vassell 72), Ladapo, Kayode 80), Smith (Proctor 63). Subs not used: Hinds, Dockerty.