Chesterfield edged into the automatic promotion places in League Two after sealing a seventh win in eight games.
There was no shortage of effort from Cheltenham, however, as Justin Richards, Matt Thornhill and substitute Julian Alsop all struck the bar.
But Barry Conlan hit the winner from the penalty spot after Wade Small was brought down following a collision with Aaron Lescott and Ashley Eastham.
After the break Simon Whaley forced two saves from Robins keeper Scott Brown.
Cheltenham Town Manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"It was one of our best performances in weeks, we hit the cross bar three times so we're disappointed but all is not lost.
"We switched off and gave away a penalty and we've got to learn from that and make sure that it doesn't happen again, but on the whole we did well."
Chesterfield manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Sheffield: "The most pleasing thing is that we've won the game and I think deservedly so.
"It's not about performances, but picking points up and that's what we've done.
"When we had to defend, we did and the victory was well earned.
"Getting the first goal is important, when we get the first goal we usually manager to hold on."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 6 March 2010
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Cheltenham
0-1
Chesterfield
FT
(HT 0-1)
Conlon (pen) 41
Cheltenham
01 Brown
03 Ridley (Watkins 82)
05 Townsend
16 Eastham
07 Pook
17 Low
19 Elito
28 Thornhill
36 Lescott
09 Richards
38 Hayles (Alsop 63)
Substitutes
21 Puddy,
04 Duff,
08 Gallinagh,
27 Andrew,
10 Hutton,
14 Watkins,
39 Alsop
Chesterfield
01 Lee
05 Page
12 Goodall
16 Breckin
07 Allott
08 Niven
20 Gray
24 Rundle
26 Small (Boden 76)
32 Whaley
13 Conlon (Madine 90)
Substitutes
23 Crossley,
06 Austin,
27 Whing,
10 Boshell,
28 Madine,
33 Clay,
19 Boden
Ref: D'UrsoAtt: 3,006
CHELTENHAM
CHESTERFIELD
Possession
Cheltenham52%
Chesterfield48%
Attempts on target
Cheltenham6
Chesterfield2
Attempts off target
Cheltenham5
Chesterfield7
Corners
Cheltenham5
Chesterfield4
Fouls
Cheltenham8
Chesterfield13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:26 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:45 Foul by Simon Whaley on Joshua Low, free kick awarded. Matt Thornhill crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Tommy Lee.
90:00+1:16 Scott Boden is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:27 Unfair challenge on Gary Madine by Joshua Low results in a free kick. Simon Whaley restarts play with the free kick.
89:18 Substitution Gary Madine is brought on as a substitute for Barry Conlon.
87:49 Simon Whaley has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
86:04 Justin Richards takes a shot. Save made by Tommy Lee.
84:55 Unfair challenge on Medy Elito by Ian Breckin results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Matt Thornhill, blocked by Ian Breckin.
81:04 Substitution Marley Watkins comes on in place of Lee Ridley.
80:52 Simon Whaley produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
79:50 Centre by Joshua Low, clearance made by Ian Breckin.
79:06 Inswinging corner taken by Matt Thornhill from the left by-line, Robert Page makes a clearance.
78:06 Foul by Dan Gray on Medy Elito, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Lee Ridley.
76:41 Scott Boden produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
75:32 Substitution Scott Boden is brought on as a substitute for Wade Small.
74:26 A cross is delivered by Adam Rundle, Matt Thornhill manages to make a clearance.
73:19 The ball is sent over by Lee Ridley, clearance made by Ian Breckin.
72:27 Michael Pook takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
71:08 Simon Whaley takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Adam Rundle produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Townsend. Clearance made by Michael Townsend.
70:36 Simon Whaley takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.
69:36 Michael Townsend gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wade Small. Direct free kick taken by Alan Goodall.
65:03 Joshua Low crosses the ball, Justin Richards takes a shot. Save made by Tommy Lee.
63:32 Justin Richards takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
61:59 Strike comes in from Simon Whaley from the free kick, save by Scott P Brown.
61:59 Substitution Julian Alsop comes on in place of Barry Hayles.
61:59 Joshua Low gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Allott.
60:57 A cross is delivered by Lee Ridley, clearance by Robert Page.
59:39 Foul by Dan Gray on Medy Elito, free kick awarded. Matt Thornhill crosses the ball in from the free kick, Tommy Lee makes a save.
58:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dan Gray by Michael Townsend. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.
58:10 The ball is sent over by Alan Goodall, clearance by Ashley Eastham.
57:31 The ball is sent over by Simon Whaley, Michael Townsend manages to make a clearance.
56:55 The ball is delivered by Ashley Eastham.
56:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robert Page on Justin Richards. Free kick taken by Matt Thornhill.
55:11 Simon Whaley takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
54:03 Adam Rundle takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Aaron Lescott.
52:44 Effort on goal by Adam Rundle from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
52:20 Centre by Lee Ridley, Tommy Lee makes a save.
51:11 The ball is crossed by Alan Goodall, Michael Townsend manages to make a clearance.
49:51 Simon Whaley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Medy Elito. Scott P Brown takes the direct free kick.
48:38 Centre by Alan Goodall, Michael Pook manages to make a clearance.
47:44 Medy Elito sends in a cross, Robert Page manages to make a clearance. Matt Thornhill produces a left-footed shot from inside the box and strikes the post.
46:40 Justin Richards takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:04 The match has reached half-time.
44:42 Michael Pook crosses the ball, Tommy Lee makes a save.
42:11 Adam Rundle has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
40:25 GOAL - Barry Conlon:Cheltenham 0 - 1 Chesterfield Penalty taken left-footed by Barry Conlon and scored. Cheltenham 0-1 Chesterfield.
39:16 Foul by Ashley Eastham on Wade Small, Penalty awarded.
38:39 Lee Ridley produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
35:21 Barry Hayles fouled by Alan Goodall, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Ridley takes the direct free kick.
34:33 Adam Rundle has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
32:45 Foul by Barry Conlon on Aaron Lescott, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Aaron Lescott.
30:52 Foul by Mark Allott on Barry Hayles, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Aaron Lescott.
29:44 Inswinging corner taken by Lee Ridley from the right by-line played to the near post, Michael Pook produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
29:25 Michael Pook takes a shot. Blocked by Ian Breckin.
25:54 Outswinging corner taken by Matt Thornhill from the right by-line, save by Tommy Lee.
25:27 Barry Conlon is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
24:43 Barry Conlon challenges Michael Townsend unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott P Brown takes the direct free kick.
21:03 Corner taken by Simon Whaley from the left by-line, clearance by Michael Townsend.
20:02 Simon Whaley delivers the ball, Effort from inside the area by Adam Rundle misses to the left of the target.
19:17 Close range strike by Justin Richards goes over the bar.
17:08 The ball is swung over by Alan Goodall, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.
15:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Conlon on Ashley Eastham. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
13:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Allott by Joshua Low. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.
12:50 Unfair challenge on Ashley Eastham by Barry Conlon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Lescott.
11:05 Wade Small challenges Aaron Lescott unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Pook.
10:10 Wade Small is ruled offside. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
8:16 Inswinging corner taken by Matt Thornhill, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Breckin by Michael Townsend. Tommy Lee takes the direct free kick.
7:20 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matt Thornhill, clearance by Dan Gray.
6:57 Lee Ridley sends in a cross, Ian Breckin makes a clearance.
5:46 Simon Whaley sends in a cross.
3:14 The assistant referee flags for offside against Wade Small. Indirect free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
2:34 Lee Ridley challenges Derek Niven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Page takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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