Chesterfield extended their winless run to seven games with a 1-1 draw after Marc Richard’s opener was cancelled out by a late header from Scunthorpe defender Luke Waterfall.

In the first few moments, Richards headed over the bar following a Jamie Devitt cross. With eight minutes on the clock, Chesterfield took the lead. The ball fell to the feet of Richards, who smartly finished low past Sam Slocombe from just outside the area.

Jay O’Shea fired the ball across goal but Slocombe was there to smother it. Etienne Esajas then cut inside and shot at goal for the Iron, but Tommy Lee saved comfortably.

Another Devitt cross found Gary Roberts at the back post, but he sliced his effort away from goal. Roberts attempted the spectacular once again from 30 yards, with his effort just going wide of the post. From then on, the home side seemed happy to keep possession and they did it fairly comfortably too.

On the stroke of half-time, O’Shea broke from the right wing and shot from distance but Slocombe saved comfortably.

After the restart, Devitt fired a cross towards the advancing Drew Talbot but an opposition defender cleared the danger. Roberts then set up Jimmy Ryan for a shooting opportunity, but the midfielder put his effort high and wide of goal.

Just before the hour mark, Sam Hird replaced Liam Cooper. Moments later, the Spireites were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. Devitt stepped up to take it, with his effort crashing out off the crossbar and away from the Scunthorpe goal.

A sole run from Scunthorpe winger Terry Hawkridge that beat several Chesterfield defenders was eventually thwarted by Hird.  On 68 minutes, Devitt was replaced by Tendayi Darikwa.

With 15 minutes to go, Richards thought he had doubled his side’s lead with a header although the flag was raised for off-side. Moments later, Armand Gnanduillet replaced O’Shea.

A Scunthorpe free-kick then caught out the Chesterfield defence, but the danger was cleared by Talbot. Gnanduillet then tried a shot from distance that never troubled visiting goalkeeper Slocombe.

With two minutes to go, Scunthorpe got the goal they had been looking for. Another Iron free-kick was launched into the home side’s area and Waterfall was there to head home unmarked past Lee.

It was then announced that there would be four minutes of additional time. Sam Winnall then headed wide from another Iron free-kick.

In the final moments, a lofted pass from Roberts found Ian Evatt in the Scunthorpe box but he couldn’t direct his header towards goal and the Iron was awarded a goal kick.