By Dale Hurman
The Chairboys failed to make the most of their first half ascendancy as Chesterfield secured the three points with a 2-0 win.
The problems began when Tom Williams, who had been named in the starting line-up, suffered chest pains and had to be replaced by Sam Stockley.
Within two minutes however Jermaine Easter found himself free on the left hand side of the penalty area after a mistake by Kovacs but poked horribly wide.
On 11 minutes Jamie Lowry found himself in acres of space just outside the Wanderers box and his low drive was well held by goalkeeper Scott Shearer.
After a quarter of an hour Easter was brought down and Russell Martin's subsequent free-kick was blocked but fell kindly to Leon Johnson, whose shot on the penalty spot was kicked away by Spireites goalkeeper Barry Roche.
A neat move on the edge of the home penalty area between Matt Bloomfield and Jermaine Easter saw the striker's neat square pass find McGleish whose scuffed his shot and Roche gathered the ball at the second attempt.
On 27 minutes a flowing Chesterfield move looked to have come to a halt as McCracken brought down Jack Lester but the referee played the advantage and the Chairboys defence held firm. Referee Haywood went back and booked McCracken.
The home side looked to have worked an opening when Lester had a sight of the Wanderers goal but the former Forest striker sliced his shot horribly.
Sergio Torres picked up the ball just inside the Spireites half and ran at the home defence, beating two or three men and doing well to keep his feet before playing the ball back to Bloomfield, unfortunately the pass was too hard and too high for the midfielder to control and the Chesterfield defence cleared.
Within a couple of minutes Easter found room on the right hand side of the penalty box, turned quickly but fired his shot at Roche, who held comfortably.
Roche again saved with his feet as he came out to block Easter's shot from a very tight angle.
A minute before half-time a right wing cross from Lowry was headed back to the edge of the area and Derek Niven fired a low shot just inside Shearer's right hand post to give Chesterfield the lead.
Chesterfield started the second half in bright fashion as Lester's neat footwork almost created an opening. Lowry's cross from the right was then just too long for the striker.
Shearer's long goal-kick caused hesitation in the home defence and McGleish toe-poked the ball past Roche but sadly for the Blues' fans behind the goal the ball also trickled just past the post.
On 65 minutes McGleish played the ball into Bullock on the right and he cut into the area and pulled the ball back to Bloomfield whose low shot was blocked in a crowd of Chesterfield defenders who protected their goal well.
Johnson was booked for a foul on Lowry and Fletcher's shot from just inside the area was well saved by Shearer diving to his left. The Wanderers made their first change with Oakes replacing Bloomfield.
Martin Bullock then found space on the right and his dangerous cross flew across Roche's six yard box with no-one on hand to provide a finishing touch.
John Sutton replaced Gary Holt as Paul Lambert went with three up-front. Oakes lovely pass put in Easter on the left but the striker fired his shot wide.
With 14 minutes remaining the home side doubled their lead. The ball was played out to Phil Picken whose cross into the area was missed by Scott Shearer and Jack Lester had the simple task of heading into an empty net.
Two minutes later it would have been three but for an excellent save from Scott Shearer who somehow stopped Niven's close range shot after the midfielder had been put through by Lester.
Substitute Adam Rooney then flashed a half-chance over as the Spireites looked to finish off the Wanderers.
The Chairboys never gave up and in the last minute John Sutton's deep cross to the far post was controlled by Easter, who cut back and fired his shot low into the side netting.
Wycombe Wanderers line-up: 1. Scott Shearer, 4. Russell Martin, 7. David McCracken (C), 9. Jermaine Easter, 10. Matt Bloomfield (8. Stefan Oakes 68), 11. Martin Bullock, 15. Gary Holt (16. John Sutton 72), 17. Scott McGleish, 20. Leon Johnson, 22. Sergio Torres, 25. Sam Stockley.
Subs not used: 18. Craig Woodman, 19. Jamie Young (GK), 31. Andre Boucaud
Bookings: McCracken 27 (foul), Johnson 67 (foul).
Chesterfield line-up: 1. Barry Roche, 5. Phil Picken (Kevin Gray 84), 11. Gregor Robertson, 15. Aaron Downes (Capt.), 2. Janos Kovacs, 4. Jamie Lowry (Adam Rooney 75), 16. Jamie Winter, 8. Derek Niven, 19. Peter Leven, (Alan O'Hare HT), 10. Steve Fletcher, 14. Jack Lester.
Subs not used: 3. Jamie Jackson, 9. Adam Smith.
Bookings: Downes 59 (dissent), Lester (foul) 84.
Goals: Niven 44, Lester 76
Attendance: 3,757 (241 away fans)
