Some woeful defending saw Wrexham concede three goals in the first 15 minutes to give themselves an uphill task that they were not able to rise to and they finally crashed to a four goal home defeat at The Racecourse.

Wrexham fresh from victory over fellow strugglers Lincoln City kept the same side for the visit of Chesterfield, Chris Llewellyn returned from suspension but only to a place on the bench.

On a dry, mild evening in North Wales Chesterfield kicked off attacking the Kop end of the ground, but it was Wrexham who had the first attempt at goal, Robbie Garrett firing wide after a Marc Williams pass on two minutes.

Chesterfield earned the game's first corner when Richard Hope made good block from Rooney. Wrexham cleared the danger easily enough. They did however take the lead on six minutes, when Anthony Williams fumbled Bastians' cross, it bobbled around the area and Jack Lester fired home from close range.

Wrexham had a good spell of possession as they worked hard to get back into the game, they almost did on 12 minutes when Mike Carvill's low cross was deflected goal wards by Downes and Barry Roche got down to his left hand side to make a sharp reaction save.

A minute later disaster for Wrexham as Felix Bastians, on loan from Nottingham Forest and making his debut skinned Danny Williams and crossed to the far post where Adam Rooney attacked the ball, although the last touch before it crossed the line appeared to belong to Wrexham defender Neil Taylor.

It got even worse a minute later when Rooney headed the ball across the area and Jack Lester headed home from close range to put the visitors 3-0 up. One has to say that the Wrexham defending in this period was awful.

Brian Carey had to replace the injured Marc Williams with Chris Llewellyn on 16 minutes. Neil Roberts won a corner when his shot was blocked on 18 minutes. Steve Evans headed the corner well wide. Matt Crowell was booked for a foul on 19 minutes.

A good run and shot from Robbie Garrett on 21 minutes brought a bit of relief to the Wrexham defence but Roche held the ball well to his chest.

Aaron Downes joined Crowell in the book on 22 minutes. Every time Chesterfield attacked they threatened another goal, Anthony Williams making a fine save from Lester as the defence just stood off the Chesterfield forwards.

Neil Roberts was booked for a challenge on Bastians with 25 minutes gone, and then Mr Foster evened up the yellows by giving one to Picken for an obstruction on Mark Jones. The game's fifth yellow card in 28 minutes went to Janos Kovacs for a foul on Neil Roberts.

Mark Jones tested Roche with a good low shot on 29 minutes but the goalkeeper got down well to save his 20-yard effort. Neil Roberts got a good flick on to Carvill's cross but again Roche got his hands to the effort as Wrexham tried desperately to get back into the game. Mark Jones put another effort over the bar from 20 yards with 32 minutes on the clock as Wrexham had a good spell of play.

Neil Taylor's over hit cross caused Roche a moment of panic, however he recovered to tip it over and Hope headed the resultant corner over the bar. Wrexham were working hard to get back into the game and Neil Roberts did really well to win the ball off Kovacs and set up Chris Llewellyn for a good run but the shot was wide of the Chesterfield goal.

With 43 minutes gone a Phil Picken shot bounced over Williams and struck the post with the keeper well beaten and during the three minutes added time Jack Lester hit the Wrexham bar with a fierce left foot shot as once again the Wrexham defending was woeful.

They survived until half time and left the field with the displeasure of The Racecourse faithful ringing in their ears.

Neither manager made a change at half time. Chesterfield won an early corner but it came to nothing.

Second Half

The half started scrappily with Chesterfield looking content to hold on to what they'd got and Wrexham battling to break them down. Chris Llewellyn put a good left foot drive just wide on 52 minutes after some good work by Robbie Garrett.

Two minutes later Carvill's cross found Llewellyn but the header was deflected wide, the corner was cleared as far as Mark Jones who put his effort into the back of the Kop.

Chesterfield continued to look dangerous on the break and after a mix up between Danny Williams and Steve Evans Jack Lester fired his shot across the goal and just wide.

From the next break Danny Williams fouled Lester on the edge of the area and got himself in Mr Foster's book. Leven's free kick was well turned around the post by Anthony Williams.

It was only a temporary respite though as Peter Leven fired a superb right foot shot high into the roof of the Wrexham net on the hour mark after a good build up from Chesterfield to make it 4-0.

Matty Done came on for Matt Crowell, he went up front with Neil Roberts, Chris Llewellyn dropping into midfield. Simon Spender replaced Mike Carvill soon after as Brian Carey shuffled his pack.

Chesterfield replaced Janos Kovacs with Kevin Gray with 20 minutes left with the game going through a quiet period. The only real action was a string of substitutions and Felix Bastians got a good round of applause from the Wrexham fans as he came off to be replaced by Nicky Travis on 75 minutes.

Chesterfield sliced through the Reds defence again on 77 minutes but Anthony Williams did well to fall on Rooney's cross as Lester looked to pounce.

The final change came on 80 minutes with the veteran Wayne Allison replacing Jack Lester.

Wrexham, to their credit, kept going but all too often they gave the ball away and they just couldn't create any real threat on the Chesterfield goal. Chris Llewellyn did have a right-footed effort on 85 minutes; it was in truth an easy save though for Barry Roche.

Adam Rooney missed a great chance for the visitor's fifth goal when a simple through ball split the Wrexham defence; the on loan striker lifted his effort wide of the goal with only Anthony Williams to beat as we went into added time

Matty Done got yellow card number seven for a late tackle, before the players left the field to cries from the crowd calling for the head of manager Brian Carey.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Anthony Williams, Richard Hope, Steve Evans, Danny Williams, Mike Carvill (Simon Spender 63), Robbie Garrett, Matt Crowell (Matty Done 61), Mark Jones, Neil Taylor, Neil Roberts, Marc Williams (Chris Llewellyn 16).
Subs: Michael Jones, Shaun Pejic.

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Barry Roche, Phil Picken, Aaron Downes, Janos Kovacs (Kevin Gray 70), Gregor Robertson, Jamie Lowry, Derek Niven, Peter Leven, Felix Bastians (Nicky Travis 75), Adam Rooney, Jack Lester (Wayne Allison 80).
Subs: Jamie Winter, Alan O'Hare.

Referee: D Foster (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 3,058
Away: 151

Bookings -
Wrexham: Matt Crowell (foul), Neil Roberts (foul), Danny Williams (foul), Matty Done (foul)
Chesterfield: Aaron Downes (foul), Phil Picken (foul), Janos Kovacs (foul)