Lionel Ainsworth's cracking treble for Hereford United sunk brave Stockport County.
The hosts opened brightly on a bitterly cold afternoon. Debutant Adam Nowland tried his luck early on, but his shot was blocked, with the rebound from Liam Dickinson being comfortably saved by Wayne Brown.
Left-back Michael Rose then curled in a great cross, only for Adam Proudlock to head wildly over.
On 20 minutes Hereford responded when John McCombe stooped to get his head to a corner-kick, but the effort was bravely blocked by Michael Raynes.
It was Stockport who were on top as half-time approached and they were mightily unlucky on 32 minutes. Adam Griffin floated over a peach of a cross from the left and Dickinson directed a header well, but it hit the far post and rolled along the goal-line before being cleared.
It was the visitors who went ahead on 37 minutes, however, courtesy of a superb individual goal. Ainsworth skipped past a couple of Stockport defenders before chipping home a great effort past Conrad Logan from 20 yards.
Three minutes after the restart Hereford almost went two up. Clint Easton was through on goal, but Stockport keeper Logan saved well with his legs.
The visitors made no mistake on 54 minutes though. Theo Robinson crossed from the by-line and there was Ainsworth again who headed home easily at the far post.
Stockport did reduce the arrears on the hour mark. Robbie Threlfall felled Dickinson in the box and Anthony Elding slotted home his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
That man Ainsworth completed a memorable afternoon on 70 minutes though. He latched on to Robinson's through-ball before slotting home to complete a super hat-trick.
Hereford keeper Brown punched a Rose corner-kick into his own net on 83 minutes, but it wasn't enough for County.