Darlington 0 Hereford 0

Quakers were held to a goalless draw by ten man Hereford at Blackwell Meadows.

The visitors had midfielder Tommy O'Sullivan dismissed for two bookable offences, but they defended well after that, as Quakers piled on the pressure and had efforts cleared off the line.

Darlington skipper Terry Galbraith celebrated his 250th league start by almost scoring just after half time, while Stephen Thompson was close to his 99th club goal when he came on as sub.

The winning run might have ended, but at least Quakers are still unbeaten in seven matches heading into this Saturday's FA cup tie with Walsall.

Quakers forced the first corner on 7 minutes when a defender cleared from O’Neill, but the setpiece came to nothing, then O’Neill was pulled up for handball as he tried to turn on a pass inside by Adam Campbell.

Quakers nearly scored on 13 minutes. Wheatley burst forward and found Rivers, who played the ball back for Holness to hit a right foot shot that went just over the top from 25 yards.

Then Galbraith played the ball down the left for Holness to turn the ball in field for Campbell to shoot straight at Hall.

Hereford were down to ten men on 27 minutes when O’Sullivan, who had been shown a yellow for a foul on Rivers a few minutes before, handled the ball as Hereford were trying to break, and the ref showed him a second yellow.

Former Darlington player Reece Styche had a chance for Hereford on 36 minutes when he turned inside two defenders on the right, but then fired left-footed into the side netting.

Quakers nearly scored on 40 minutes when Hedley in plenty of space on the right, crossed into the middle for O’Neill to have a header well saved by Hall, and Storey couldn’t quite force the rebound home.

Then another chance came along on 42 minutes when Holness found Liddle up the left with a delightful reverse pass, Liddle crossed into the middle for Campbell to curl a right foot shot just wide.

Right on half time, Pollock crossed from the left, and Vincenti’s header was saved under the bar by Connell

Half time 0-0

At the start of the second half, Galbraith moved forward from the half way line and hit a low shot from 25 yards that Hall gathered at full stretch.

Quakers were denied by a goalline clearance on on 57 minutes when Hatfield got around the back of the defence on the right, and set up O’Neill, whose low shot beat Hall, but was cleared off the line by Hodgkiss.

Sub Stephen Thompson came on and was fouled out on the right. Hedley played the ball inside for Liddle, who fired over the top.

Quakers went close on 73 minutes when they broke out of defence, Hedley played the ball inside for Thompson to shoot towards goal, and Donawa deflected the ball just wide.

Thompson then moved up the right and hit a blistering right foot shot that the keeper just managed to palm away.

There was plenty of Darlo pressure after that, Thompson headed Liddle’s deep cross at Hall, and there was a huge scramble in which O’Neill had a shot blocked from six yards.

And there was controversy when a free kick by Thompson was parried by Hall and Campbell scored from the rebound, but the referee disallowed it for an infringement in the wall.

Final score: Darlington 0 Hereford 0

Team: Connell, Hedley, Liddle, Wheatley, Storey, Galbraith, Rivers (sub Thompson 61), Hatfield, Campbell , Holness (sub Donawa 65), O’Neill

Subs: Laing, Watson, Bascome

Booking: Hedley, Wheatley, Galbraith

Hereford

Hall, Thomas, Hodgkiss, Pollock, Cullinane-Liburd, Gowling, Allen (sub Nicholson 84), Dawson, Styche (sub Mooney 86), Vincenti (sub Sodeinde 49), O’Sullivan

Subs: Pope,  Bodenham

Booking: O’Sullivan

Red O’Sullivan

Attendance 1388