JAMIE WARD showed why Championship clubs are on his trail with another top-class display.

The striker’s pace and energy brought County’s 12-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.

Ward hit a midweek hat- trick against Aldershot and found his scoring touch again here after just 28 minutes — rounding Russell Hoult for his ninth of the season.

The former Aston Villa trainee has been linked with Wolves and Derby and will be out of contract at the end of the season. But Chesterfield boss Lee Richardson insisted “We will be talking with Jamie about a new contract.

“He’s been outstanding and if he works as hard as he has been, then he’ll get chances.”

Ward’s eye for goal has lifted some of the pressure on Richardson with back-to-back home wins.

Boss Richo added: “I am really pleased with the effort of the players.

“Our pressing and work-rate always made it likely we would score — and although we had some stout defending to do, I thought we deserved it.”

It was a familiar story for County boss Ian McParland with more injuries.

He said: “Michael Johnson had to have an injection in his toe to numb the pain. Then when he went off our left-back had to go to right-back.

“I’ve got a patched up team but I thought in the second half we were excellent.”

Alan Goodall blasted a 57th-minute second for the home side.

Delroy Facey headed County’s reply three minutes later. But any hopes the visitors had were dashed in injury time when Paul Harsley fired in Chesterfield’s third.

BRENTFORD 1, SHREWSBURY 1

SUB Chris Humphrey brightened Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson’s day in more ways than one as he snatched a point.

Humphrey ran on wearing bright orange boots and had only been on the pitch three minutes when he struck his first goal for the club — in his 45th league appearance.

That cancelled out Charlie MacDonald’s second-half opener for Brentford.

And Simpson said: “I’m delighted for Chris because I’ve been telling him I didn’t think he would ever score. He’s been hitting the post and the bar, so I’m thrilled for him to finally hit the net. It was a good result for us as Brentford are going well.”

It was a niggly game with Brentford midfielder Glenn Poole the first of seven players booked after he caught Ben Davies with an elbow. Poole was also on the receiving end when Shane Cansdell-Sheriff scythed him down to join the long list of yellow cards in ref David Phillips’ book.

Bees grabbed their lead when MacDonald turned in the box to fire home om 73 minutes.

BARNET 0, EXETER 1

MATT GILL’S 72nd-minute strike extended Exeter’s unbeaten run to seven games.

The only surprise was the visitors had to wait so long for a goal after being the better side.

Grecians could have led after just 17 minutes when striker Marcus Stewart dragged his shot wide with only Barnet keeper Lee Harrison to beat.

And strike partner Adam Stansfield also sliced an effort wide from two yards after Harrison had parried a volley from Richard Logan.

Exeter were nearly made to pay for the misses when Adam Birchall shot over from close range just before the break.

But the visitors got their winner when Bertie Cozic’s shot cannoned into Gill’s path and he fired home from 12 yards.

But Humphrey had the final word with a cool finish seven minutes later after the home defence allowed a cross to run right across their box.

BOURNEMOUTH 0, LINCOLN 1

LENELL JOHN-LEWIS grabbed his first goal since August to extend Lincoln’s unbeaten run to seven games in the league.

John-Lewis’ 24th-minute strike earned Peter Jackson’s Imps their third away win of the season — and woeful Cherries never looked like finding their way back into the match.

Left-back Lee Beevers raced down the flank before picking out John-Lewis. His toe-poked effort was palmed in off a post by Bournemouth keeper Shwan Jalal.

Lee Bradbury had a third-minute volley blocked on the line by keeper Rob Burch. But that was the only meaningful chance Jimmy Quinn’s side created.

And Lincoln could have won by more — but Lee Frecklington blazed a cracking second-half chance over the bar.

BURY 1, LUTON 2

ANDY BISHOP hit back at the Bury boo-boys after their third straight home defeat.

Blunders by Wayne Brown and David Buchanan gifted goals to to Luton duo Tom Craddock and Ian Roper before the hosts were booed off at half-time.

Striker Bishop did get one back with a 53rd-minute penalty after Roper felled Richie Baker.

But Alan Knill’s side were unable to stop lowly Luton claiming their first league win in seven games.

Bishop said: “We shot ourselves in the foot again. But we’re an honest bunch of lads and it’s disappointing when the fans get on our back.

MACCLESFIELD 1, ROTHERHAM 2

DALE TONGE and Andrew Nicholas scored in each half to maintain Rotherham’s stunning start to the season.

But Macc defender Ian Sharps and Millers’ James Jennings were both sent off after a scuffle in an action-packed three minutes of injury time.

Mark Robins’ side have now won seven of their 13 games to more than wipe out a 17-point deduction.

Tonge struck after just five minutes, firing Mark Burchill’s cross past keeper Jon Brain.

And Macc looked dead and buried a minute into injury-time when Nicholas nodded home from a Tonge cross.

But there was still time for Francis Green to get one back with a volley — and ref Steven Cook to dish out two reds.

“This is the best set of players I’ve played with at the club and we need to be encouraged and pushed on.”

PORT VALE 2, MORECAMBE 1

VALE boss Dean Glover celebrated his first home victory thanks to Marc Richards’ winner — FOUR MINUTES into injury time.

Richards and Louis Dodds were both denied by the woodwork in the first half, although Vale keeper Joe Anyon also pulled off a fine save from Morecambe’s Craig Stanley to keep the score blank.

But Luke Rodgers’ close-range strike finally put the home side in front 10 minutes from time.

Glover’s joy lasted less than a minute, however, as Jim Bentley headed home an equaliser for the visitors.

Richards finally nipped in to win it for Glover’s side, heading home Rodgers’ cross.

ROCHDALE 3, ALDERSHOT 1

JOE THOMPSON bagged his first goal of the season to help stop Rochdale chucking away three points at Spotland.

Winger Thompson, 19, broke the 1-1 deadlock with a low six-yard strike nine minutes from time minutes.

And Will Buckley made the points safe with a third goal deep into stoppage time.

Dominant Dale hit the woodwork twice through Chris Dagnall but still looked set for a frustrating draw after Shots’ Marvin Morgan wiped out Adam Rundle’s 27th-minute opener.

Morgan headed home on 66 minutes after keeper Sam Russell brilliantly kept out John Grant’s close-range effort.

ACCRINGTON 0, WYCOMBE 1

CHRIS ZEBROSKI hit a dramatic winner as leaders Wycombe left it mighty late yet again at lowly Accrington.

The striker, 21, latched on to a long ball from keeper Scott Shearer and flicked it past Kenny Arthur as the keeper came out.

It was the third in four games Wycombe have scored in the final minute. And boss Peter Taylor said: “We keep getting these late goals, which is tremendous. It’s not just about fitness, but confidence too. If you score late once you believe you can do it again.”

Accrington boss John Coleman insisted: “I’ll have to wait and see the video but I am convinced that the goal was offside.”

Dale’s Buckley was also denied a penalty after being felled by Chris Blackburn.

Even then, Shrimps still had a chance to nick a point but Anyon did brilliantly again to keep out Wayne Curtis’ effort.

DARLINGTON 3, DAGENHAM & R 0

LIAM HATCH’S double led the charge for in-form Darlington as Daggers crashed to their third straight defeat.

Hitman Hatch got Dave Penney’s men off to a fifth-minute flyer, nodding home Franz Burgmeier’s corner.

And Alan White went close to doubling the tally when he hit a post. But Jason Kennedy finished off great work by Hatch on 50 minutes and Hatch bundled in his second after keeper Tony Roberts failed to hold Neil Austin’s 55th-minute free-kick.

Darlo boss Dave Penney said: “We were solid and looked a threat. A clean sheet was great — the goals were a bonus.”

GILLINGHAM 2, CHESTER 0

ON-LOAN Spurs duo Andy Barcham and Leigh Mills scored the goals to seal Gillingham’s win over struggling Chester.

Both keepers earned their money in a tight first half, home stopper Simon Royce saving Kevin Ellison’s well-struck low drive and City’s John Danby denying Gills frontman Mark McCammon.

But the home side barely threatened until boss Mark Stimson switched Barcham in to a more central role on the hour — and within seven minutes he tapped home Nicky Southall’s flick on.

And they doubled the lead on 74 minutes as centre-back Mills found space in the area and headed home John Nutter’s cross.