Hereford 1 Darlington 0

Skinner 90 mins, 1-0

Darlington’s five match unbeaten run came to an end when they were beaten by a last minute penalty at Sixways last night.

They looked as if they would hold on to a point, until the home side were given a late penalty. It was a frustrating evening for Quakers who had plenty of possession, but didn't create many close range opportunities.

It was the first time they hadn't scored in 20 league matches, going all the way back to the defeat at Buxton in October.

Here are Steve's thoughts on the game

youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Tuy6hJCjY&feature=youtu.be

Quakers had a chance in the second minute. Cedric Main found space in the box on the right to cross to the far post, where Tom Tweedy headed just wide.

Then Kallum Griffiths tried his luck from 30 yards, but the keeper, Theo Richardson, saved.

They kept the pressure going, and Tweedy whipped a in a low cross from the left that Jack Maskell just failed to reach at the far post.

In Hereford’s first meaningful attack on 11 minutes, Aaron Skinner had a low shot saved down to his left by Rory Watson.

And Darlington had Watson to thank for a timely block on 15 minutes when Harry Tustin looked as if he was going to latch on to a through ball, but the keeper timed his run to the edge of the box perfectly and smothered the ball on the edge of the area.

Elliot Forbes then ran forward on 18 minutes and fired a right foot shot just wide of the left hand post.

Hereford nearly scored from their first corner on 22 minutes, when Gus Mafuta prodded the ball towards goal from six yards out, but Ellis Stanton cleared off the line.

Then Tustin had another chance on the left, but Watson saved with his legs.

Quakers replied on 30 minutes when a chip forward by Stanton was partly cleared as far as Griffiths, whose first time volley was well saved by Richardson.

The keeper pulled off an even better save two minutes later when Griffiths, who was 40 yards out, spotted the keeper off his line and tried to lob him, but the keeper backpedalled quickly and touched the ball over the bar.

And from Tom Allan’s inswinging corner that followed, Maskell headed just wide of the post.

Hereford had an escape when Barrow played the ball in to the Hereford box and Matt Preston tried to play the ball back to his keeper, but Richardson didn’t gather it and had to scramble back and push the ball around the post, with Quakers protesting that he shouldn’t have handled it

Half time 0-0

Quakers nearly broke through on 53 minutes, when Barrow’s left wing corner came back to him, and the defender hit a swerving shot that Richardson just managed to hold at the foot of his post.

Maskell was unlucky twice in a minute. Firstly he broke up the left and his left foot effort went just past the far post, then he controlled a pass from Stanton on his chest in the area and volleyed first time, but Richardson saved well.

But again Watson had to be alert at the other end when Tustin got through, and the keeper blocked his effort with an outstretched hand.

Quakers counter attacked, and Stanton played a 1-2 with Main and fired across the face of goal, with Maskell just unable to get a touch.

Quakers made their first sub on 65 minutes, Max Howells coming in for Allan.

However, the Bulls threatened again when Tustin got through, but Watson once again denied him.

And then George Munday pulled the ball back for Tustin, who sidefooted into Watson’s hands.

Quakers made another sub on 75 minutes, Matty Cornish coming on for Griffiths, and then Aidan Rutledge came on for Maskell.

Quakers nearly scored on 77 minutes when Stanton curled a corner in from the left, and the ball glanced off a defender and struck the far post.

Quakers pushed men forward in the closing stages, and Main set up Tweedy on the edge of the area, but he fired over the top.

But Hereford got a penalty in the last minute when Skinner went down in the area when he was challenged by Tom Platt, and he got up to score from the spot.

Final score Hereford 1 Darlington 0

Watson, Forbes, Lees, Barrow, Griffiths (sub Cornish 75), PLatt, Tweedy, Allan (sub Howells 65), Stanton, Maskell (sub Rutledge 75), Main

Subs: Hedley, Mason, Myers-Smith, Lowes