BILLERICAY Town’s hopes of reaching the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history were ended by a first round replay defeat for the second consecutive campaign as Chesterfield claimed a 3-1 win at the AGP Arena.

Although Joe Kizzi was on target for the hosts, a Tom Denton hat-trick allowed the Spireites to book a home tie against League Two side Grimsby Town at Billericay’s expense.

Billericay, who were knocked out of the competition at the same stage 12 months ago by Leatherhead, welcomed a bumper crowd of 2,493.

And the hosts – who were knocked off top spot in the National League South at the weekend – won a corner inside the opening 30 seconds of the encounter as they looked to get the upper hand, but the Spireites fashioned the first meaningful effort as Jerome Binnom-Williams forced Alan Julian into a fine save.

But Chesterfield goalkeeper Callum Burton was then fortunate not to be punished for a glaring error.

Callum Kennedy’s deep free-kick was dropped by Burton, but the home side were not quick enough to pounce on the mistake and the custodian was able to gather the loose ball.

Julian, who was in superb form during the original tie at the Proact Stadium 10 days earlier, thwarted Lee Shaw after the Chesterfield frontman got the wrong side of Dean Inman.

However, Billericay were creating the majority of the chances and Joe Kizzi’s glancing header was comfortably saved by Burton.

Former Southend United attacker Zavon Hines, who only came into the visitors’ starting line-up in place of skipper Will Evans soon before kick-off, then saw a strike deflected over the crossbar as Chesterfield looked to get a foothold in the clash.

But Burton was called into action again as he brilliantly thwarted Modeste from close range.

Town shot-stopper Julian was thankful to see Spireites frontman Denton’s low strike deflect into his hands following a fine move by the National League strugglers, who came into the replay with just one win from their last 19 fixtures in all competitions.

But Denton was to make no mistake just five minutes before the break as Shaw’s centre was converted by the striker from close range.

Scott Doe raced back to frustrate Shaw after he had been put through on goal soon after the interval.

And that intervention was to prove crucial as Billericay levelled matters thanks to Kizzi’s close range strike moments later.

But Denton restored Chesterfield’s lead moments later as his header looped into the back of the net.

And Denton sealed the victory for the visitors in the dying moments as he fired home from close range to end Billericay’s run in the competition.