Hereford 1 Darlington 2

Attendance 1,778 (and many thanks to the Darlington supporters who made the long trip!)

Goals: Evans (11 mins, 1-0), Liddle (45+3, 1-1), Lambert (53 mins, 1-2)

Darlington came from behind to win at Hereford for the first time in 26 years!

The last time Quakers won at Edgar Street, they were a goal down in the 1996 play off semi final, and on that day they came back to win 2-1.

They didn't play well at all in the first half after Hereford went into the lead, but after Jack Lambert hit the bar with the most audacious of long range efforts, Ben Liddle equalised and eight minutes into the second half, Lambert scored the winner after being set up by Jacob Hazel.

The 1995-96 team had bucketfuls of character away from home, and the same can be said about Alun Armstrong's team as they held on against some frantic Hereford pressure for the points. They have won now won five away games, the same number as the whole of last season.

As several of the players said afterwards, Quakers would have lost that game last season.

They have now won their last three away games in a row -- at Telford, Kidderminster and Hereford -- to go second in the table, a point behind leaders Brackley.

Here are the highlights:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-hereford-v-darlington-available-now

and here's Alun's interview

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/i-loved-our-dogged-determination

Quakers had the first attempt in the game. Alex Purver found Jack Lambert on the left, he played the ball into the box for Jacob Hazel to hit a left foot shot from a tight angle from 12 yards out into the keeper’s hands.

But Hereford broke away and scored with their first attack on 11 minutes, when the ball was played through for Jack Evans to run through and beat Tommy Taylor with a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Quakers tried to hit back, and Lambert played a 1-2 with Ben Liddle and tried to chip the keeper, but the ball went wide.

Dan Dodds then played a good ball down the right for Jarrett Rivers, who controlled it well, but then slipped in the box and a defender managed to clear.

Quakers nearly went 2-0 down on 29 minutes. Luke Haines headed a free kick back at the far post, and Dodds tried to head the ball over his own crossbar, but misjudged it and Taylor had to push the ball over the top.

Quakers nearly levelled on 36 minutes. The ball was played back to Hereford keeper Dale Eve, who was put under pressure by Hazel, so the keeper hurriedly cleared and the ball went to Lambert on the edge of the box, who struck a first time shot towards goal, but Eve recovered to push the ball away.

They went close again on 43 minutes. Rivers won a free kick just outside the right corner of the box, and Liddle whipped the ball into the middle and just past the far post.

Quakers were denied by the crossbar in first half stoppage time, Lambert won the ball midway inside his own half, spotted the keeper off his line and hit an audacious long distance effort that sailed over the keeper, looked as if it was going in, and bounced off the crossbar.

But Quakers regained possession ,and Hazel set up Liddle, who fired into the top corner, for his second goal of the season.

Quakers made a sub at half time, Kaine Felix coming on for Rivers, and he produced a teasing cross from the right on 48 minutes that was just beyond everyone in the box.

After a Hereford attack broke down, Quakers broke up the field and went 2-1 up on 53 minutes. Hazel got up the left to the bye line and pulled the ball back perfectly for Lambert to slide home in the middle for his 8th goal of the season.

Quakers were then forced back and Felix then Hedley put in good tackles inside their own area.

It was nearly 3-1on 65 minutes. Hedley’s free kick up the line found Hazel, and even though he was at a tight angle, struck a first time left foot shot that the keeper saved just inside the post

Hereford went up the other end and got round the back of the defence, but Moke cleared on the six yard line.

Hereford had another chance when Dodds got in a tackle on Storey and the ball broke for Amadi, who fired over the top from ten yards.

Quakers made their second sub on 75 minutes, Griffiths coming on for Liddle, which allowed Dodds to go as one of three centre halves.

There then followed a break of a few minutes for a stoppage in play in which the referee asked for help from the stewards. It was later determined that it was because of a homophobic comment aimed at Jacob Hazel by a Hereford fan, who was ejected from the ground by stewards.

Quakers dug deep after that, and managed the game well. Hereford piled men forward, but with every Darlington player defending well -- and facing a corner in the sixth minute of stoppage time -- they held on for a famous win.

Final score:

 Hereford 1 Darlington 2

Team; Taylor, Dodds, Lawlor, Sukar, Hedley, Moke, Liddle (sub Griffiths 75), Purver, Lambert (sub Mondal 88), Rivers (sub Felix 46), Hazel

Subs: Rose, Martin

Bookings: Purver, Lawlor, Rivers

Hereford include former Darlington player James Caton in their squad

Eve, Evans, Haines, Thompson-Sommers, Amadi-Holloway, Pinchard (subBarnett 88), Storey (sub Dinanga 72), Hanson, Melhado, Holmes, Thompson

Subs: Campbell, Pendley, Barnett, Caton, 

Booking: Haines