HEREFORD put their points-deduction woes behind them in spectacular style against the league leaders.

Goals from Stuart Fleetwood, Steve Leslie and Joe Colbeck earned United an excellent win which keeps them clear of the danger zone.

Hereford boss Jamie Pitman was able to name an unchanged team for the visit of league leaders Chesterfield.

The Bulls, looking to avenge a 4-0 defeat at the b2net stadium earlier in the campaign, were also hoping for a win to claw back the three points docked by a Football League tribunal during the week.

Hereford forced an early corner through Joe Colbeck but Steve Leslie’s cross came to nothing.

Hereford then had a nervous moment when Stefan Stam’s air-kick to a right-wing cross turned into a good dummy to allow Adam Bartlett to field the ball.

The Bulls, though, took the lead on 10 minutes.

Joe Heath sent Leslie away on the left and his cross was headed back across goal by Colbeck for Fleetwood to head in his 17th goal of the season.

Fleetwood’s pass sent James McQuilkin surging forward moments later to deliver a fierce drive which keeper Tommy Lee fielded at the second attempt.

With Hereford on the rampage, Fleetwood won the ball off full-back Gregor Robertson but Colbeck interception pushed the ball wide.

Fleetwood forced another corner on 20 minutes but Leslie’s cross just cleared Stam’s head and went out of play.

Chesterfield responded with a 24th minute corner which saw Jack Lester head Dean Morgan’s cross over the bar.

Hereford still looked the more promising attackers and Joe Heath blazed a good shooting opportunity wide from Fleetwood’s neat pass.

At the other end, Lester found some space to meet a Danny Whittaker free-kick but the ball went well wide of the target.

Fleetwood, who looked in terrific form, was only inches away from adding to the lead with a neat chipped shot on 32 minutes.

Craig Davies replied at the other end with a curling effort which drifted over the angle of post and bar.

But Colbeck went even closer with a deflected drive from 20 yards which brought another corner.

Colbeck’s dangerous cross was cleared by Dean Holden as Fleetwood closed in at the far post.

Inside the first minute of the second period, Chesterfield almost levelled.

Davies made some space on the edge of the area and drilled in a left-foot shot which came back off a post.

Davies, who looked revitalised, drilled in a right-foot drive moments later which Bartlett fielded confidently.

Hereford were soon back into their stride, though, and it took a good block by Robertson to prevent Colbeck from adding a second from Leslie’s pass.

Bartlett, however, did well to parry a Holden header from Whittaker’s free-kick on 58 minutes.

Robertson had to be stretchered off after sustaining what appeared to be an ankle injury with no other player anywhere near him.

Good work by Fleetwood on the right fed McQuilkin to drill a shot just wide as Hereford moved back on to the attack.

Hereford extended their lead 15 minutes from time with a spectacular strike from Leslie.

Colbeck and Nicky Featherstone worked the ball to the on-loan midfielder who drilled a shot from 30 yards past the helpless Lee.

Colbeck’s strike to extend the lead five minutes later certainly did not suffer by comparison; a rasping drive on the angle from 25 yards.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green (Purdie 65), Townsend, Stam, Heath; Colbeck, McQuilkin, Lunt, Featherstone, Leslie; Fleetwood (Fleetwood 78). Subs not used: Hoult, Kovacs, Rose, Stratford, Price.

Chesterfield: Lee; Tablot, Holden, Robertson (Breckin 67), Griffiths (Boden 58); Smalley, Whittaker, Mattis, Morgan; Davies, Lester (Allott 58). Subs not used: Niven, Morris, Redmond, Djilal.

Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 2,492 (including 609 from Chesterfield).

Goals: Fleetwood, 10 min, 1-0; Leslie, 75 min, 2-0; Yellow cards: