Dilan Markanday Sends Chesterfield Fc Into League Two Play-Offs

chesterfield fc reached the League Two play-offs with a 2-1 win at Swindon Town on the final day. Dilan Markanday scored the decisive goal in the 61st minute, and the result ended Swindon’s promotion hopes after a top-seven decider at the County Ground.

Lee Bonis Strikes First

Lee Bonis put Chesterfield ahead in the 19th minute after a miscued Armando Dobra shot fell to him. Swindon needed to win, and they had the chance to do exactly that before halftime when Ben Middlemas equalised on the stroke of the break after a pass from Aaron Drinan.

The match stayed level until Chesterfield found the break they needed after the interval. Dobra drove into the box and squared the ball for Markanday, who finished in the 61st minute to restore the lead and give Paul Cook’s side the result they had been chasing all afternoon.

Ryan Boot Holds Swindon

Swindon pushed for another equaliser, but Ryan Boot delivered the stop that kept Chesterfield ahead. He made a double save from Ollie Palmer’s point-blank shots as the visitors held on through the closing stages.

That sequence mattered because Swindon were trying to complete their first league double over Chesterfield since 2015-16. Chesterfield had already taken one step in the other direction, having won just one of their previous 13 league visits to Swindon before this trip. They left with a win that settled the season for both clubs in one afternoon.

Chesterfield's Away-Day Finish

The final result also extended a pattern for Chesterfield: this was their final away league match of the season, and they have now played their last game away from home in six EFL seasons in a row. The scoreline left them alive in the post-season chase, while Swindon’s defeat closed the door on promotion on the final day.

For Chesterfield, the 2-1 finish was the only line that mattered. For Swindon, the chance was there and went by the 61st minute.