Source: Northern_Echo
Another defeat for Darlington
Hereford United 2 Darlington 1[LNB] Despite a late fightback at Hereford United, Darlington again suffered a defeat but this time they could not point to many missed scoring opportunities for their 2-1 loss.[LNB] Unlike last week's loss at Barnet, when Quakers were left ruing several wasted chances, Steve Staunton's side lacked the penetration and drive that saw them play so well at Underhill.[LNB] They went two behind with the goals coming either side of half-time from Hereford who are now 13 points ahead of Quakers.[LNB] Furthermore, several sides at the bottom of League Two also won so Darlington are well adrift.[LNB] They were slow to start at Edgar Street with the hosts' Craig King wasting a great chance after only six minutes.[LNB] The striker fired wide from 16 yards after sneaking in between two Darlington defender on the edge of the penalty area and latching on to Mark Marshall's through-ball but Quakers quickly hit back by forcing two chances of their won. First, striker Simon Thomas volleyed over the bar with his back to goal after connecting with Jeff Smith's ball dinked to the far post.[LNB] Then Jamie Chandler's diagonal ball to James Collins in the penalty was chested down by the loan striker before he blasted an effort at goal that keeper Adam Bartlett saved at the near post.[LNB] Darlington right-back Paul Arnison, who returned to the side following a hamstring injury in last week's defeat at Barnet, provided a timely challenge to prevent Hereford from taking the lead on 16 minutes following a counter-attack.[LNB] The Bulls broke down Quakers' left with striker Mathieu Manset beating Matt Plummer for pace and strength before crossing to the far post where Marc Pugh readied himself to score until Arnison dived in to block.[LNB] Eight minutes later the moved was almost replicated on the left side of the pitch with Manset again forcing his way past Plummer.[LNB] This time his pass into the penalty area found Mark Marshall but Moses Barnett dived into block, just as Arnison had done, with the loose ball collected by keeper Nick Liversedge.[LNB] Liverdedge was selected despite the midweek arrival of Ashlee Jones. He had to be content with a place on the bench at Edagr Street and also a sub were fellow new signings Mor Diop and Nathan Mulligan.[LNB] There was no place in the starting XI for Ian Miller as was concussed and substituted during the first at Barnet.[LNB] So Plummer took his place as one of two changes, the other being Mark Convery's inclusion on the right of midfield ahead of Corey Barnes who was a sub.[LNB] Chances for either side dried up during the latter stages of the half until Hereford suddenly took the lead shortly before the break with Keith Lowe firing home from inside the penalty area.[LNB] The centre-back had been upfield for a free-kick that Liversedge tried and failed to catch which led to left-winger Marc Pugh, who had been a peripheral figure, playing the ball to Lowe whose shot easily beat the keeper.[LNB] It was his first goal for the club, the 25th Darlington have conceded and they are yet to keep a clean sheet.[LNB] The latest goal will have disappointed Staunton as it was a cheaply conceded goal but enough to give a mediocre Hereford the lead.[LNB] While Darlington lacked the tempo they demonstrated at Barnet and the previous week against Shrewsbury, the Bulls had been nothing more than average before the break but two minutes after the restart Darren Jones made it 2-0.[LNB] Again the goal came from a free-kick with the midfielder shooting past Liversedge following Ryan Valentine's ball into Quakers' penalty area.[LNB] It was a hammer blow to Quakers but 51 minutes so nearly 3-0 with Manset heading over from an unmarked position after Pugh picked him out at the far post with a left-wing cross.[LNB] A Collins shot was fisted away by keeper Bartlett but Staunton soon took action by making a double substitution.[LNB] On came Mor Diop and Nathan Mulligan, for Thomas and Convery, and with Corey Barnes already having replaced Arnison at the break the changes represented Staunton's last throw of the dice.[LNB] But it was Hereford who next came closest to goal with Manset blasting over after again beating Darlington's defence for pace.[LNB] But on 72 minutes came the goal Darlington were desperate for with Collins providing it.[LNB] Jeff Smith started a smart move up the left, sending Moses Barnett racing away and he pulled the ball back from the byline to Collins who fired a left-footed effort across the keeper and into the net.[LNB] Quakers could hardly say the goal had been coming as they had lacked penetration, but within two minutes the 98 visiting fans almost had an equaliser to celebrate.[LNB] Smith's inswinging corner was headed powerfully at goal by Plummer but it was too close to Bartlett and he was able to push the effort over the bar.[LNB] Diop had won the corner and the substute won another flag kick on 79 minutes when he wriggled his way into a shooting position before seeing Bartlett save his low shot.[LNB] But that was as close to a leveller as Quakers came as they sank to a defeat that leaves them nine points adrift of safety as fellow strugglers Torquay won.[LNB] Goals: 1-0 (41, Pugh), 2-0 (47, D Jones); 2-1 (72, Collins)[LNB] Bookings: None[LNB] Referee: Simon Hooper (Swindon)[LNB] Attendance: 2,238[LNB] Hereford United (4-4-2): Bartlett; Lowe, D Jones, Blanchett, Valentine; Marshall, Lunt, Gwynne (Sonko 57), Pugh (Godsmark 87); Manset, King. Subs (not used): Rose, Constantine, Done, Adamson, McCallum[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Liversedge; Arnison (Barnes 45), Plummer, Foster, Barnett; Convery (Mulligan 57) Chandler, Davis, J Smith; Thomas (Diop 57), Collins. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Burn, Groves, Main[LNB]
