Chesterfield confirmed their inevitable promotion back to the English Football League with a comfortable victory over Boreham Wood – which also sealed the National League title.
Jamie Grimes scored twice and Liam Mandeville netted immediately after the interval as the Spireites stayed 21 points clear with nearest challengers Barnet, who hammered Dorking 6-0, now having only 18 to play for.
Chesterfield keeper Harry Tyrer had to make an excellent early save from Tom Whelan’s free-kick but the hosts took the lead in the 28th minute when captain Grimes headed home Mandeville’s corner from near the penalty spot.
It was 2-0 less than a minute into the second half as Mandeville tucked away Armando Dobra’s cross and the 9,907-strong crowd were treated to a 100th league goal of Chesterfield’s season when the impressive Dobra teed up Grimes to score his second of the game.
Struggling Wood could find no response and as the five added minutes expired, the celebrations could begin.
Paul Cook’s side went top on 16 September and have remained there ever since in an utterly dominant campaign, becoming champions with five games to spare to return to the EFL after six seasons away.
In contrast to last year’s title race in the fifth tier, between Wrexham and Notts County, this season’s has been a total procession.
Chesterfield, whose 97-year spell as a Football League club ended in 2018, were 22 points clear at the top on 6 February before going on a run of three games without a victory – their longest winless run of the season.
They ended that sequence with a 2-0 win at Barnet on 27 February to move 20 points ahead of the chasing pack, and leave promotion a near-certainty with two months of the season still to play – though recent dropped points against Halifax and Oldham has meant Spireites fans have had to be a bit patient.
