ACCRINGTON Stanley slipped to their fourth loss in five games as they were hammered at League Two leaders Chesterfield tonight.

Stanley went behind in the eighth minute as Craig Davies latched on to Derek Niven's through ball and beat keeper Alex Cisak, but Phil Edwards levelled from the penalty spot nine minutes later after Scott Griffiths had felled Peter Murphy.

Chesterfield regained their advantage five minutes before half time, though, as Danny Whitaker converted a penalty following Kevin Long's ill-advised challenge on Jack Lester.

Two minutes later Lester made it 3-1, beating Edwards on the edge of the box and then calmly finding the corner.

Chesterfield extended their lead further in the 56th minute as Davies squared for Whitaker to score his second, although Terry Gornell made it 4-2 four minutes later with a neat finish from Sean McConville's cross.

The home side made it five with two minutes left, though, as Davies darted clear and beat Cisak once more.

Stanley: Alex Cisak; Jon Bateson, Phil Edwards, Kevin Long, Dean Winnard; Peter Murphy (Chris Turner 58), Andy Procter; Jimmy Ryan, Charlie Barnett (Ray Putterill 58), Sean McConville; Terry Gornell. Subs not used: Ian Dunbavin, Sean Hessey, Luke Joyce, Andy Parkinson, Rory Boulding.

Chesterfield: Tommy Lee; Jack Hunt (Kelvin Lomax 71), Simon Ford, Dwayne Mattis, Scott Griffiths; Drew Talbot, Derek Niven (Deane Smalley 76), Mark Allott, Danny Whitaker; Craig Davies, Jack Lester (Scott Boden 84). Subs not used: Shane Redmond, Ian Breckin, Gregor Robertson, Ian Morris.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northants).

Attendance: 6,034.