Doncaster missed the chance to close the gap on stuttering League Two leaders Walsall to four points after being thrashed 5-2 by Chesterfield.

Rovers came into the match looking to record a fifth successive victory and continue to turn the heat up on Walsall, who have picked up just one point from their last three games.

But it was Chesterfield who emerged convincing victors, with Bim Pepple netting twice as the Spireites moved up to ninth, five points away from the play-off spots.

Dylan Duffy, Michael Olakigbe and Ollie Banks were also on target for the hosts with Luke Molyneux and Joe Ironside replying for the visitors.

Chesterfield announced before the match that midfielder John Fleck had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after being taken ill during the warm-up.

Kick-off was then delayed by 10 minutes, but once the game was under way it did not take long for Chesterfield to gain the upper hand with Duffy firing home under Doncaster keeper Ted Sharman-Lowe after being sent clear by Armando Dobra in the 11th minute.

Pepple doubled Chesterfield’s lead before half-time with a close-range finish after Olakigbe’s cross was headed back at the far post by Tom Naylor.

Doncaster had a chance to pull a goal back but Max Thompson came to the home side’s rescue with a triple save to thwart Molyneux.

Thompson was unable to deny Molyneux a fourth time on the stroke of half-time though, as the winger made it 2-1 in added time.

That was as good as it got for high-flying Rovers however as Chesterfield scored twice in quick succession before the hour mark to take the game away from them.

Olakigbe restored Chesterfield’s two-goal lead in the 54th minute with a neat finish following a great ball from Darren Oldaker, and Pepple scored his second of the night five minutes later after getting on the end of a low cross from Jack Sparkes.

Joseph Olowu went close for Doncaster with a header which hit a post and went wide before Ironside did manage to make it 4-2 in stoppage time.

Chesterfield would have the final word though with Banks netting to wrap up a big win.