Hereford produced their best away performance of the season to win at Saltergate.

The Bulls gained their first win in Chesterfield since 1975 as they belied their lowly position.

New signing Astrit Ajdarevic had to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench when Hereford boss Graham Turner named his side.

The on-loan Leicester City midfielder failed to displace either James McQuilkin or Kenny Lunt, who had impressed in the Bulls’ win over Bradford City.

Jake Jervis, who scored United’s second goal in that success, was promoted to the starting line-up with Gavin McCallum dropping to the bench.

Hereford threatened early on when Jervis made a speedy break on the left before dragging the ball back into the middle.

Lunt slipped a pass to McQuilkin whose shot flew high over.

Chesterfield responded with a break down the right by Ishmel Demontagnac which broke for Mark Allott to fire over.

Another speedy raid by Hereford ended with the lively Jervis bundling the ball narrowly wide.

But Demontagnac, on his home debut, was proving an equal threat at the other end, curling a free-kick just over.

Bulls keeper Adam Bartlett was then quickly off his line to clear at the feet of Scott Boden.

The Spireites were quickly on the attack again after a poor pass by Lunt was picked off.

Wade Small raced through but lashed his shot high over.

Lewis Young showed even greater speed for the Bulls, outstripping Rob Page down the right and lashing a shot inches wide.

With the Bulls providing plenty of threat up front, Jervis shot straight at keeper Tommy Lee before Mathieu Manset fired inches over from the edge of the box.

Jervis then picked up a pass from Lunt and cut in but the shot again failed to match the approach play.

The on-loan Birmingham striker was then well placed to receive a pass from Young but hooked a weak shot straight at Lee.

As Hereford continued to impress, Jervis prodded a ball across the area but just inches ahead of Manset.

Chesterfield threatened only occasionally and Allott drove wide again on 34 minutes.

Young should have done better for the Bulls, though, a minute later when Marc Pugh played him in, only for the youngster to allow Lee to block his effort.

McQuilkin was next to try his luck after a fine run which ended with the ball flashing inches wide.

Within two minutes of the re-start, Hereford were in front.

Pugh raced into the area on to a long pass from Lunt and was brought down by Phil Picken.

Referee Andy Woolmer pointed to the spot and Jake Jervis fired home.

Jervis almost added a second five minutes later but Lee came out quickly to block, with Pugh volleying the rebound inches wide from the edge of the area.

Demontagnac continued to be a threat, though, and a pacy 59th minutes run ended with a shot into the side-netting.

Another Lunt pass opened up the Chesterfield defence on 62 minutes.

The midfielder’s perfectly-weighted ball was seized on by Pugh who drilled home his ninth goal of the season.

And Jervis fired over from a great position after Pugh had raced down the left.

Allot drilled a shot wide from the edge of the area in a rare home raid.

And Adam Rundle forced a good parry from Bartlett as Chesterfield finally began to show some signs of life.

But Jervis should have put the game beyond doubt when he broke through only to shoot when the unmarked Pugh was screaming for a pass.

Chesterfield found a foothold in the game in needless fashion.

Young brought down Adam Rundle on the bye-line with no danger threatening and Barry Conlon scored from the spot.

And the veteran striker was only denied a second shortly afterwards when Bartlett produced a brilliant point-blank parry.

But Hereford came close to a third injury time with a powerful Leon Constantine drive.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Rose, Jones, Valentine; Young (Gwynne, 90 min), Lunt, McQuilkin, Pugh; Jervis, Manset (Constantine, 85 min). Subs not used: Adamson, Preston, Done, Ajdarevic, McCallum.

Chesterfield: Lee; Picken, Whing, Page, Breckin, Goodall; Talbot, Whing, Allott, Demontagnac; Boden (Conlon, 52 min), Small. Subs not used: Crossley, Gray, Rundle, Austin, Boshell, Bowery.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 3,593 (149 from Hereford).

Yellow card: Hereford – Jervis, dissent, 74 min; Chesterfield – Goodall, foul, 21 min; Picken, 47 min, foul; Goals: Jervis pen, 47 min, 0-1; Pugh, 62 min, 0-2; Conlon pen, 82 min, 1-2.