HEREFORD United missed the chance to climb to second spot in League Two after a nightmare display in front of the Sky television cameras.

The promotion-chasing Bulls were blown away after a dreadful first-half showing at Saltergate in which Chesterfield scored three times.

A first-half brace from Jack Lester paved the way for only Hereford's second away league defeat of the season.

The Derbyshire club made a dream start in the blustery and wet conditions and took the lead in the second minute.

Lester ran unchallenged into the Hereford area and laid the ball off for Jamie Lowry to hit a shot past Wayne Brown.

Chesterfield added a second in the 21st minute after a dreadful mistake by Lee Collins.

Lester slid in to intercept a weak back-pass from the on-loan Wolves defender and knock the ball home.

Things got worse for Hereford on 38 minutes when the Spireites hit their third goal.

Lester picked up a neat ball from Brendan Maloney and cut inside before firing a shot inside the near post from a tight angle.

The closest Hereford came to scoring was a long-range effort from Theo Robinson in the 73rd minute which was tipped wide by Barry Roche.

The Bulls' misery was compounded in stoppage-time when Maloney blasted a rocket into the top corner.

Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Rose (Eas-ton 76 min), Collins (McCombe 76 min), Beck-with; Taylor, Smith, Diagouraga, Johnson; Robinson, Benjamin (Gwynne 46 min).