Hereford thrashed League Two leaders Chesterfield to boost their survival hopes.

Stuart Fleetwood put the home side into an early lead with a firm header from Joe Colbeck's cross from the left.

Craig Davies hit the post for the visitors after the break but Steven Leslie doubled Hereford's lead with a low drive from 20 yards.

Colbeck curled in a third from 18 yards for the Bulls as they secured only their fourth home win of the season.

POST-MATCH REACTION

Hereford manager Jamie Pitman told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I've always believed that we are capable of getting results at home and we are, but we have drawn too many.

"We haven't lost a lot but we have definitely drawn too many but we have managed to pull out a few results when we have really needed them.

"You have got to give the players credit for that - look at everything they have gone through this year and they have kept ploughing on and haven't moaned about anything."

Chesterfield manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Shocking performance. People keep saying we are this, that and the other and we've been playing well and we're 10 points clear. That performance won't get you anywhere.

"I just want to apologise to the people who've come and paid money to watch us, we had a good support here. I think they were coming to expect a better result and a better performance than we gave them so I apologise."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Hereford

  • 01 Bartlett
  • 02 Green (Purdie - 64' )
  • 05 Townsend
  • 24 Stam
  • 34 Heath
  • 14 McQuilkin (Rose - 86' )
  • 16 Lunt
  • 17 Colbeck
  • 18 Featherstone
  • 26 Leslie
  • 07 Fleetwood (Fairhurst - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Hoult
  • 04 Kovacs
  • 06 Rose
  • 08 Stratford
  • 32 Purdie
  • 09 Fairhurst
  • 23 Price

Chesterfield

  • 01 Lee
  • 03 Robertson (Breckin - 66' )
  • 12 Griffiths (Boden - 58' )
  • 32 Holden
  • 10 Whitaker
  • 11 Mattis
  • 09 Davies
  • 14 Lester (Allott - 58' )
  • 17 Morgan
  • 22 Smalley
  • 25 Talbot

Substitutes

  • 26 Redmond
  • 16 Breckin
  • 07 Allott
  • 08 Niven
  • 18 Morris
  • 30 Djilali
  • 19 Boden
Ref: Sarginson
Att: 2,492

Match Stats

Shots

12 13

On target

7 5

Corners

3 6

Fouls

7 8

Live Text Commentary

96:08 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +5:36

The ball is delivered by Dean Morgan, Scott Boden has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.

90:00 +4:45

A cross is delivered by Dean Morgan, clearance made by Stefan Stam.

90:00 +3:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Drew Talbot by Waide Fairhurst. Ian Breckin restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +3:02

Craig Davies delivers the ball, Header from close range by Scott Boden misses to the right of the goal.

90:00 +2:25

Centre by Drew Talbot, clearance by Kenny Lunt.

89:15

The ball is swung over by Drew Talbot, clearance made by Stefan Stam.

86:34

The ball is delivered by Craig Davies, Kenny Lunt makes a clearance.

85:29 Substitution

Substitution Richard Rose on for James McQuilkin.

85:14

The ball is swung over by Dean Morgan, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

82:29

The ball is sent over by Drew Talbot, Stefan Stam manages to make a clearance.

80:34 Goal scored

Goal - Joe Colbeck - Hereford 3 - 0 Chesterfld A goal is scored by Joe Colbeck from inside the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Hereford 3-0 Chesterfield.

78:34

Craig Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Leslie. James McQuilkin takes the indirect free kick.

77:08 Substitution

Substitution Waide Fairhurst joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stuart Fleetwood.

75:27 Goal scored

Goal - Steven Leslie - Hereford 2 - 0 Chesterfld Steven Leslie scores a goal from long range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hereford 2-0 Chesterfield.

75:01

Short corner worked by Danny Whitaker.

73:25

Craig Davies is ruled offside. Adam Bartlett takes the indirect free kick.

72:49

Craig Davies takes a shot. Stefan Stam gets a block in.

72:04

Effort from deep inside the area by James McQuilkin misses to the right of the goal.

71:16

Steven Leslie takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.

70:07

The ball is sent over by Dean Holden, Steven Leslie makes a clearance.

69:48

Dean Morgan delivers the ball, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

67:08

Corner taken short by Dean Morgan, Mark Allott challenges Stuart Fleetwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

65:52 Substitution

Substitution Ian Breckin on for Gregor Robertson.

63:53 Substitution

Substitution Robert Purdie replaces Ryan Green.

62:13

The ball is sent over by James McQuilkin, clearance made by Drew Talbot.

60:24

Joe Heath delivers the ball, Dean Holden manages to make a clearance.

60:12

Ryan Green delivers the ball, clearance by Drew Talbot.

59:01

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Joe Heath.

57:44 Substitution

Substitution Scott Boden comes on in place of Scott Griffiths.

57:19 Substitution

Substitution Mark Allott comes on in place of Jack Lester.

55:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Green on Dean Morgan. The ball is delivered by Danny Whitaker, Dean Holden takes a shot. Save made by Adam Bartlett.

53:20

The ball is swung over by James McQuilkin, save by Tommy Lee.

52:49

Joe Colbeck takes a shot. Blocked by Gregor Robertson.

48:53

Jack Lester gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Townsend. Free kick taken by Kenny Lunt.

47:18

Effort on goal by Dean Morgan from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

46:41

Craig Davies takes a shot. Comfortable save by Adam Bartlett.

45:55

Craig Davies has an effort at goal from just inside the area that bounces off the post.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:08

The ball is sent over by Dean Morgan, comfortable save by Adam Bartlett.

45:00 +0:35

Centre by Craig Davies, clearance made by Ryan Green.

44:59 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

43:54

A cross is delivered by Drew Talbot, Craig Davies takes a shot. Save made by Adam Bartlett.

43:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by James McQuilkin on Dean Morgan. Free kick taken by Dean Morgan.

42:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stefan Stam by Craig Davies. Michael Townsend takes the indirect free kick.

41:53

Centre by Craig Davies, save by Adam Bartlett.

41:38

Craig Davies takes a short corner.

39:58

Drew Talbot is caught offside. Adam Bartlett restarts play with the free kick.

39:22

The ball is sent over by Joe Colbeck, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

37:41

Short corner taken by Steven Leslie.

37:23

Joe Colbeck takes a shot. Scott Griffiths gets a block in.

36:04

A cross is delivered by Drew Talbot, save made by Adam Bartlett.

33:34

Effort on goal by Craig Davies from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

32:09

Stuart Fleetwood produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

30:18

Shot by Jack Lester from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

29:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by James McQuilkin on Drew Talbot. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Danny Whitaker.

28:41

Unfair challenge on Gregor Robertson by Stuart Fleetwood results in a free kick. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.

27:50

Stuart Fleetwood delivers the ball, Joe Heath produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

27:00

Dean Morgan crosses the ball, Shot from inside the area by Jack Lester clears the bar.

24:31

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Dean Morgan, Jack Lester has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

24:21

Dean Morgan sends in a cross, Joe Colbeck makes a clearance.

23:23

James McQuilkin fouled by Danny Whitaker, the ref awards a free kick. Kenny Lunt takes the indirect free kick.

22:39

James McQuilkin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Griffiths. Free kick taken by Scott Griffiths.

22:39

Unfair challenge on Scott Griffiths by James McQuilkin results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Griffiths.

21:56

Jack Lester gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Townsend. Adam Bartlett takes the indirect free kick.

21:26

Steven Leslie delivers the ball.

20:11

Corner from right by-line taken by Steven Leslie.

16:27

Unfair challenge on Joe Heath by Deane Smalley results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by James McQuilkin.

15:11

Short corner taken by Danny Whitaker.

13:59

Centre by Drew Talbot, clearance by Stefan Stam.

13:37

Foul by Stefan Stam on Jack Lester, free kick awarded. Danny Whitaker takes the free kick.

13:13

Joe Colbeck has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

12:56

Craig Davies takes a shot. Save by Adam Bartlett.

12:10

James McQuilkin takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.

10:37

The assist for the goal came from Joe Colbeck.

10:37 Goal scored

Goal - Stuart Fleetwood - Hereford 1 - 0 Chesterfld Stuart Fleetwood scores a headed goal from close in. Hereford 1-0 Chesterfield.

10:33

A cross is delivered by Steven Leslie,

8:12

The ball is sent over by Dean Morgan, clearance made by Michael Townsend.

6:18

The ball is crossed by Joe Colbeck, Gregor Robertson makes a clearance.

5:24

Drew Talbot sends in a cross, Adam Bartlett makes a comfortable save.

4:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gregor Robertson on James McQuilkin. Jack Lester delivers the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Joe Colbeck misses to the left of the goal.

3:00

Steven Leslie takes the inswinging corner, save made by Tommy Lee.

2:47

Joe Colbeck sends in a cross, save made by Tommy Lee.

0:00

The game gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association