United’s scholars fell to a narrow defeat at home to Chesterfield on Wednesday afternoon, despite a brace from Lewis Rourke.

The visitors went in front through Luke Mitchell after 11 minutes, however lively front man Rourke equalised only 60 seconds later.

Lekan Torres then put the Spireites ahead once again midway through a hectic first half.

Rourke levelled for a second time with an exquisite finish just after the break, following good work by Rory Harrison, but Alexander Duhameau sealed all 3 points for his side just beyond the hour.

The result leaves Steve Chettle’s young guns 6th in Division F of the National League U19 Alliance.

An electric game throughout, the hosts were on the back front early on but managed to deal with a dangerous free kick well before Luke Mitchell capitalised to fire Chesterfield ahead moments later.

They soon settled, however, and were back on equal terms in a blink of an eye.

At the other end, Rourke found himself one-on-one with Addison Bliss and composed himself to fire under the onrushing ‘keeper for a deserved leveller.

Though the joy was short-lived as, only ten minutes later, a long ball from the left travelled all the way through and Torres was on hand to poke under Gianni Musson and ‘field led at the half-time interval.

Undeterred, United’s youngsters came out with urgency and fight and Rory Harrison’s strike – after brilliantly allowing himself the opportunity – blazed well over the bar before Callum Frogson headed just wide from Harrison’s enticing free-kick.

And 12 minutes after the restart - Harrison, again, the architect – majestically danced around the tackles of two to lay off Rourke who fired emphatically across Bliss and the scores were all-square at 2.

Josh Timson went close with a fierce effort, as did Louis Nicholson following a typically bombarding run down the left; Bliss saving both down to his left.

Just on the hour and his goalkeeping heroics were rewarded.

Getting beyond Frogson, Duhameau raced through and slotted beyond Musson into the far corner to put Chesterfield back in front for a 3rd time and they held on for the final 30 minutes to move top of the league.

UNITED: Gianni Musson, Harvey Ridgley, Louis Nicholson, Josh Timson (Charlie Fox 70’), Callum Frogson, Jordan Haywood (c), Rory Harrison, Nathaniel Peters, Lewis Rourke, Sam Newell (Kiarn Nyemba 76’), Jericho Bonner (Jamie Muir 70’)
SUBS (not used): Ferdinand Bartley, Ryan Camm (GK)

CHESTERFIELD (from): Addison Bliss, Max Cook, Archie White, Ellis Perry Burdett, Harvey Thomas, Ethan Booker, Sam Hooper (c), Luke Mitchell, Lekan Torres, Alexander Duhameau, Harrison Watson, Jack Heald, Bailey Morgan, Harvey Butcher Simpson