Chesterfield secure Vanarama National League title to end a six-year spell outside the Football League

Chesterfield secured their return to the Football League after six seasons in the National League in style with a 3-0 win over Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Centre-back Jamie Grimes was the unlikely hero as he scored twice, either side of Liam Mandeville’s strike just 25 seconds into the second half.

Promotion makes amends for the heartbreak of twice losing the lead late on at Wembley last season for the Spireites.

Paul Cook’s men have been destined to go up ever since a stunning start where they won 17 of their opening 20 games of the season to streak clear at the top of the table.

Victory took Chesterfield 21 points clear of second-placed Barnet, who have just six games of the season to go.

"I can’t put it into words. This club, these fans all deserve it," Grimes told TNT Sports. "We’ve worked so hard, the sacrifices the lads have made is incredible. It’s amazing - it means so much to everybody.

"Delighted to get the goals but it is a whole season’s work. We need to go and enjoy it now."

The promotion party had been delayed by a run of just three wins in their last nine games, including a 4-2 defeat at Halifax on Wednesday.

But Grimes settled the nerves of the home crowd when the captain bulleted in a header from a corner to open the scoring.

Some of the Chesterfield support were still taking their seats for the second period when promotion was settled with a second goal as Albania under-21 international Armando Dobra crossed for Mandeville to smash home.

Grimes claimed the glory for the third, but most of the credit was due to Dobra again as he jinked past his man out wide and his shot looked to be heading in before the skipper tapped home from point-blank range.

That goal was Chesterfield’s 100th in the league this season and there was soon a celebration to go with the century.

The Boreham Wood players gathered next to the tunnel in the final seconds to avoid being caught up in the waves of fans invading the pitch, some hoisting their heroes on their shoulders.

"We’ve made a lot of sacrifices so there will be a lot of celebrations," added Grimes. "It’s going to be good!"

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