FRENCH midfielder David Friio came within a post's width of grabbing an 87th minute equaliser for Argyle.

As it was, Marcus Ebdon's audacious 30-yard strike in the 69th minute was enough to end Argyle's 26-match unbeaten home run and extend Chesterfield's own unbeaten run to five matches.

The win lifted Chesterfield to eighth in the table, in which Argyle - who have now lost two on the bounce - are 12th.

The visitors had not conceded a goal in four matches when they arrived at Home Park and that became five when they left.

But Argyle had their chances to score.

The closest they came was when they threw everything forward in search of a late leveller.

Skipper Paul Wotton thumped over a corner from the left which Friio, making one of his characteristic late charges into the six yard box, headed towards the far post.

For a split second it looked as if the glancing effort was going in, but instead the ball hit the upright and was scrambled clear by the visiting defenders, as Graham Coughlan tried muscling in on the act.

There was still time after that - in the three minutes of stoppage time - for Coughlan and Co to have another go.

The big Irishman stayed up in attack, won a free kick and Hasney Aljofree, making his home debut at left back, placed the ball with dead ball expert Wotton hovering ominously.

Aljofree took the kick and curled the ball just wide from 30 yards.

It was Argyle's last meaningful effort on goal.

What started as a response to a couple of early efforts by Chesterfield's Mark Allot and Jamie Burt, turned into something of a one-man wing show by Martin Phillips.

The tricky number 11 twisted this way and that, sent defenders flying by him and delivered some great crosses as Argyle searched for that elusive opening goal.

In the ninth minute Coughlan's defence-splitting pass found Aljofree in space in the area but he miscued and sent his close range effort just wide.

Carl Muggleton needed to tip over Lee Hodges' looping header after Phillips had chipped back across the face of goal and then Friio volleyed just over after Mickey Evans nodded down from a Phillips cross.

Aljofree sent a rising drive over and then Phillips, so often the provider, glanced his stooping header just wide after a great ball in by recalled striker Ian Stonebridge.

Hodges sent a diving header just over the bar after Evans's measured pass had found Phillips in space.

Just before Chesterfield scored Friio was inches short of connecting with Phillips's direct ball into the six yard box. After the goal he curled in a great cross from the right which substitute Blair Sturrock glanced just over.

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FOR more on this and other West Country sports, order a regular copy of the Sunday Independent. FIRST. BEST. EVERY SUNDAY... and just 65p.

TO subscribe to your Indy, and have it delivered direct to your door, call Plymouth (01752) 209135 (Monday to Friday, 9.00 am until 5.00 pm).