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Hereford ran out deserved 5-2 winners over Chester in a crucial National League North game at Sixways, which sees them three points closer to safety.
With the threat of relegation still looming over the Bulls, they made it six points out of the nine on offer since Aaron Downes took over from Caddis eight days ago.
Two goals from George Munday and one each for Justin Donawa, Cormac Daly, Keziah Martin meant it was the first time Hereford had put five goals past a side in the league since a 5-2 win over Blyth Spartans on 3rd February 2024 - 88 games ago, or 753 days.
Ahead of the game, Downes made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 to well-drilled promotion-hopefuls Scarborough on Saturday, with Matt Preston, Harley Hamilton, Harry Tustin, and Andy Williams making way for Kyle Howkins, Justin Donawa, new signing Harrison Sohna and Keziah Martin.
With Mafuta and Tustin both carrying knocks, the shuffle of personnel ahead of a jam-packed fixture looked to get off to a bad start as the Bulls fell behind after just five minutes. As Chester burst forward, a cross in from the left saw Keenan Quansah fail to clear under pressure, with the ball falling to Finley Shrimpton to bundle in from close range.
But despite the early setback, Hereford, somewhat uncharacteristically, didn't let their heads drop. Donawa claimed the Bulls' first real chance in the 11th minute, though couldn't find the target. Though the exiled Bulls fans only had to wait five minutes to see their side draw back level. Hereford went route one with a long, lofted ball forward from captain Hudson at left back and it was Munday who brought it under control and teed up Donawa to equalise.
Despite Chester nearly restoring their lead as Michael Kelly's free kick went inches wide of Theo Richardson's goal, Hereford started to click as a side and, committing bodies forward, had Martin fire wide from 20 yards, and Daly denied by a last-ditch defensive block before taking the lead.
On the half-hour mark at Sixways, Skinner surged forward from his position on the right of the back four, Martin and Munday combined well before Daly was picked out at the back post.
But as the game looked to be turning into a goalfest, the hosts were pegged back just four minutes later as Howkins brought Dylan Mottley-Henry down inside the area. After referee Jonathan Maskrey pointed to the spot without hesitation, Connor Woods sent Richardson the wrong way as he dispatched the penalty into the right-hand side of the net.
Undeterred, four minutes later the Bulls went ahead for a second time. Nottingham Forest loanee Daly, already putting in a man-of-the-match performance, burst down the left flank and left his man for dust, crossing in for Keziah Martin to slide home.
Despite still looking shaky defensively, with both goals avoidable, Hereford had looked dangerous on the attack and were deservedly ahead at the break.
Half time: Hereford 3 - Chester 2
Chester came out after the break, understandably desperate to score the next goal, though the Bulls did well to absorb most of the pressure and left the visitors passing around in midfield. The best chance for the hosts fell to Pat Jones who was denied by Hudson throwing his body in front of the shot on the line, with Tom Leak unable to control his shot on the rebound and firing over.
For Hereford, they continued searching for a fourth to make the scoreline more comfortable, with two Munday efforts off target before Donawa did similar. Daly, wanting his second, once again got the better of his man and forced a save out of Bobby Jones.
Chester were still pushing for an equaliser, though the closest they came was through Mottley-Henry in the 73rd minute when he cut inside and beat Quansah but couldn't get the better of Richardson.
After 39 minutes without a goal, Daly bagged his brace in the 77th minute. Hitting Chester on the counterattack, Martin, who only made the starting XI when Mafuta pulled up in the warm-up, found Daly on the wing - his initial shot was parried by Jones but in a stroke of luck, the rebound fell kindly and he made no mistake at the second time of asking.
Now with a two-goal cushion, the Bulls weren't done scoring. Three minutes later and it was Lawson D'Ath, playing his first minutes more than a month after picking up an injury, who created the fifth. The midfielder, who received a good reception when he replaced solid debutant Sohna, played a loose ball into the path of Munday, who rounded the keeper with ease and slotted home into the back of an unguarded net.
Full time: Hereford 5 - Chester 2
Well, what a win for the Lilywhites. A completely different performance to Saturday and, now just five points from safety, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hereford created and took their chances and got what they deserved. Despite still looking vulnerable in defence, with Chester picking on the full-backs who are perhaps too easily beaten and trying to force and capitalise on mistakes from the centre-backing pairing, not playing with one, isolated striker made an untold difference - the front three were too good for Chester on the night, and Cormac Daly was a league above.
Hereford: Richardson, Hudson, Willcox, Howkins, Quansah, Skinner (James 82'), Sohna (D'Ath 73'), Donawa (Williams 82), Martin, Daly, Munday
Subs not used: Preston, Rooney, Lewis, Hamilton
Chester: B. Jones, K. Roberts (Woodthorpe 46′), Leak, Croker, Kelly, Shrimpton, Murray (Leigh 61′), Weeks, P. Jones, Woods, Mottley-Henry
Subs not used: Davies, I. Burgess, White, F. Roberts