It was the same old story for Stanley as they went down to another narrow defeat.

Chesterfield were expected to win the top-versus-bottom clash and while Tendayi Darikwa’s 47th-minute goal earned them the three points, it was far from plain sailing.

With ex-Accy players Gary Roberts and Jimmy Ryan pulling the strings in the centre of a five-man midfield, the Spireites dominated possession but were frustrated by some resolute defending by the Reds.

After making the breakthrough, Chesterfield pushed for a second goal and threatened to run riot. They will do the same to many other sides this season, who’ll resort to damage limitation.

But the Reds refused to adopt that tactic, instead forcing the league leaders onto the back foot for the last 15 minutes and almost claiming an equaliser.

In the last three games Stanley have come up against higher league opposition in Crewe and two in-form sides in Burton and Chesterfield. Each time Accy have lost to a single goal but each time the outcome could’ve been so different – and that’s with an injury-hit line-up.

With Michael Liddle having joined Laurence Wilson in the treatment room, Tom Aldred had to fill in at left-back with Dean Winnard returning from injury at centre-back.

Marcus Bettinelli, Peter Murphy and Kal Naismith returned after being rested for the midweek JPT defeat at Crewe, while George Miller was handed his first start of the season.

Danny Webber started as a lone striker and he found Piero Mingoia out wide early on before taking the return ball and testing Tommy Lee with a deflected shot, which the home keeper had to turn wide.

Darikwa’s cut-back then found Jay O’Shea, whose shot was blocked by Rob Atkinson and deflected into the path of Roberts, and his shot was blocked by Winnard.

While Chesterfield were penning Accy in, they were short on clear-cut chances. Sam Hird stayed up after a free-kick was cleared and although he had room to bring down Ryan’s ball back in, he produced a defender’s finish, slicing his shot harmlessly wide.

Ritchie Humphreys’ cross was then headed down and Marc Richards volleyed over under pressure from Atkinson.

Webber added to Accy’s injury concerns by hobbling off with a muscle strain, Will Hatfield coming on, and moments later Stanley caught Chesterfield napping to create the best chance of the half.

Good build-up play between Miller, Hatfield and Luke Joyce resulted in Miller putting Richardson through on goal but the on-loan midfielder could only find the side netting.

And Richardson was made to rue that missed opportunity as the hosts broke the deadlock 77 seconds into the second half.

A poor backpass by Winnard gifted Richards possession, allowing the striker to break down the left before turning inside the covering Atkinson.

And while Richards’ 12-yard effort came back off a post, winger Darikwa was rushing in to spare his blushes and turn in the rebound.

The Spireites then looked to seal victory, Aldred’s last-ditch challenge preventing O’Shea getting on the end of Roberts’ through ball.

Substitute Armand Gnanduillet headed wide from Humphreys’ cross while Drew Talbot’s header was cleared off the line by Miller and tame shots by Hird, Darikwa and Gnanduillet were easy for Bettinelli.

Stanley replied with several crosses failing to find an Accy player in the box. The Reds were finding some joy down the left, and after sub Connor Mahoney exchanged passes with Aldred, the youngster’s cross was just over Hatfield’s head at the near post.

James Beattie’s men were enjoying their best spell of possession and Hatfield held off his man before firing narrowly over from 20 yards.

Beattie made another attacking change by bringing on Shay McCartan while Chesterfield replaced full-back Talbot in a bid to shore up their right side.

The hosts then failed to clear a Joyce free-kick and McCartan’s brave challenge turned the ball into Atkinson’s path just six yards out.

Hird brought Atkinson down with a tackle from behind, which prevented the centre-half prodding the ball home, yet referee Darren Deadman waved play on. Mahoney did just that, skipping past two defenders before testing Lee with an angled drive.

But Chesterfield went closest at the death, breaking forward for Eoin Doyle to chip against the crossbar with fellow sub Sam Togwell’s follow-up being blocked by team-mate Gnanduillet.

Stanley : Bettinelli 7, Murphy 7, Winnard 6, Atkinson 8, Aldred 7, Naismith 6, Richardson 8, Joyce 7, Miller 7 (McCartan 84), Mingoia 7 (Mahoney  73, 8), Webber 7 (Hatfield 41, 7). Subs: Clark, Jenkins, Windass, B. Wilson. Attendance: 6,588