Port Vale manager Martin Foyle hailed this fixture as 'our biggest in five years' but with Chesterfield battling relegation, it would also be one of their toughest.
With player-coach Ian Brightwell thrown into the side the Vale defence was somewhat of a ramshackle affair.
Chesterfield tested it after only ten minutes when Glynn Hurst managed to beat two defenders but his 18 yard shot was poor and trickled wide.
The Valiants came close three minutes later when Adrian Littlejohn squeezed a cross in from the left for Stephen McPhee but unfortunately for the home side his stabbed shot zipped past Carl Muggleton right post.
Vale then found themselves on the back foot and after Jonathan Brain made two magnificent saves Chesterfield broke the deadlock on 34 minutes.
Full Back Allan O'Hare supplied a sweeping cross from the left, connecting with Ian Evatt at the far post who beat two men to head into the keepers bottom right. The Spireites showed more of the same spirit after coming out for the second half.
Steve Rowland saved his side when goalscorer Evatt was allowed to head again at the back post but luckily for Vale, the defender was on hand to clear off the line in the 58th minute.
Port Vale had the perfect opportunity to equalise on 70 minutes when Michael Cummins charged into the box but his shot was denied by the sprawling legs of Muggleton.
However, the home fans only had to wait another four minutes for the leveller. Mark Bridge-Wilkinson's throw fell to the feet of Billy Paynter who got to within ten yards off the goal and skilfully chipped the ball over the oncoming keeper.
Chesterfield manager Roy McFarland said: "We played well and had a good first half and managed to get our noses in front but as usual we let it slip in the second half, it was disappointing."