A SECOND-half penalty from Ryan Valentine gave Hereford United only their third League Two victory of the campaign at Edgar Street.

Valentine struck the winning goal for United 13 minutes into the second period after Robert Page was ruled to have pushed winger Mark Marshall inside the box.

James Walker almost notched a second goal for Hereford with three minutes left but his effort was superbly clawed away by Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

Chesterfield pressed hard for an equaliser and Scott Boden’s header was ruled out for offside in the 83rd minute after Adam Bartlett had parried Mark Allott’s drive.

Allott and Donal McDermott hammered shots narrowly wide for the Derbyshire club who slipped to their fifth away defeat.

Hereford, in truth, worked hard and deserved their victory in a lively game in which both sides tried to keep the ball on the deck.

Ryan Green and Keith Lowe were outstanding at the heart of the Hereford defence.

The Bulls had dominated an entertaining first-half and should have been, at least, two goals ahead before the interval.

Hereford manager John Trewick will be relieved that his side held their nerve in the second half and United have now gone five matches unbeaten.

Valentine was, perhaps, fortunate to escape with only a yellow card in the 71st minute after he tangled with former Wales international Page in an off-the-ball incident.

Hereford took the lead from the penalty spot in the 58th minute.

Page was penalised for a push on Marshall and Valentine fired the spot-kick into the corner of the net past the despairing dive of Lee.

Dave Perkins had come agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock just seven minutes earlier.

The former Morecambe man’s 20-yard left-foot strike beat Bartlett but rattled the top of the United crossbar.

Walker wasted a glorious opportunity for the Bulls in the 48th minute, shooting wide from six yards after Valentine’s free-kick had dropped favourably in the box.

Earlier, both sides had chances to take the lead inside the opening three minutes of the match.

McDermott, for the visitors, struck a half-volley which forced Bartlett into a finger-tip save at the near-post after just 49 seconds.

Then, in the third minute, Mathieu Manset slipped a through-ball for Walker whose low drive was blocked by the legs of Lee.

The Bulls continued to dominate and Lee saved with his legs in the 17th minute to deny Walker after a crisp passing move had cut open the visitors’ defence.

Chesterfield threatened in the 27th minute after Perkins combined with McDermott.

But McDermott’s dangerous cross flashed across the face of goal.

Sam Gwynne tried his luck with a half-volley which fizzed wide and then Lee made another five save from King’s low drive in the 39th minute.

Keith Lowe should have done better for United in the 41st minute when he met Marshall’s free-kick but his free header flew wide from six yards.

Hereford: Bartlett, Valentine, Lowe, Blanchett, Green, Marshall, King, Lunt, Gwynne, Manset, Walker (Sonko 89). Subs not used: Rose, Constantine, Godsmark, Done, Adamson, McCallum.

Chesterfield: Lee, Picken, Page, Breckin (Austin 79), Little, Lowry (Bowry 85), Allott, Perkins, McDermott, Talbot, Lester (Boden 67). Subs not used: Crossley, Gray, Currie, Niven.

Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands).

Attendance: 2,574.