Cast 11 points adrift when Paul Ince took over on October 28, the former Manchester United ace has since masterminded a dramatic revival, taking 24 points from his 13 games in charge.
Macclesfield should have been three goals up after ten minutes with John Miles firing inches wide from 15 yards, Danny Swailes seeing an eight-yard header cleared off the line and Matt McNeil lashing a close-range shot against the crossbar.
The game turned on 14 minutes when Hereford full-back Andy Ferrell was sent off for deliberately handling a McNeil header on the line, allowing Kevin McIntyre to rifle home his sixth penalty of the season into the roof of the net.
Hereford battled hard and went close in the 25th minute when Alex Jeannin blasted a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar. But Macclesfield finished the half strongly with Danny Swailes heading wide and McNeil sending another header over the bar.
Hereford came closest to equalising in the 51st minute when Stuart Fleetwood released Andy Williams, who jinked inside his marker, only to be thwarted by a fine save from Tommy Lee.
John Murphy then sent a snapshot straight at keeper Wayne Brown, before McNeil saw a header cleared off the line by Phil Gulliver.
Macclesfield sealed the game in the 61st minute, when John Miles crossed for Murphy to send a flying header into the roof of the net.
A surging run from sub Martin Bullock then created another chance for Murphy, but Brown saved from close range. However, the former Blackpool striker was not to be denied his eighth goal of the season since his move from Bloomfield Road, when a powerful run from Alan Navarro set up a simple scoring chance in the 83rd minute.