skip to content

  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena
  • Attendance: 4331
  • Referee: Whitestone, D

Live Commentary

90 mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

89 mins

Ryan Valentine is booked for unsporting behaviour.

82 mins

Ben Parker is being taken off, Craig Nelthorpe has come on in his place.

79 mins

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu is replaced by Ricky Ravenhill.

79 mins

Neil Austin is being taken off, Scott Wiseman has come on in his place.

77 mins

Gary Hooper is being taken off, Theo Robinson has come on in his place.

74 mins

The referee has booked Steve Foster.

69 mins

Goal!! Gary Hooper scores for Hereford.

46 mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.

45 mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

0 mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Hereford United striker Gary Hooper grabbed the important winning goal for the Bulls with a strike which keeps their automatic promotion dreams alive.

For Darlington this was another dismal display in a run that has seen them collect only six points out of a possible 27. Not exactly promotion form and they are now in danger of failing to make even the play-offs.

This was always going to be a nervy occasion with a lot at stake for both sides and so it was no surprise that the crowd had to wait until the 13th minute for the first real opportunity.

On-loan midfielder Jason Kennedy had a goalbound shot blocked by Hereford captain Karl Broadhurst and the visitors quickly countered when Richard Rose centred for Clint Easton, who fired in a low drive that had Darlington keeper David Stockdale at full stretch. The ball flew wide however.

The home side felt aggrieved when they were denied two penalty appeals in the space of four minutes. On the half-hour mark Broadhurst challenged Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and the striker went down in the box and then four minutes later an Easton challenge on former Bulls player Rob Purdie left the Darlington man incensed.

The second one looked more clear-cut, however referee Whitestone waived play on.

In the second half Darlington striker Tommy Wright for once escaped his marker and he raced forward before firing from the edge of the area. His shot was easily dealt with by United keeper Wayne Brown.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when a clearance from home captain Steve Foster struck a Hereford player and the ball bounced kindly for Hooper.

His first-time shot was palmed away by Stockdale straight back to the feet of the Hereford striker and he calmly rounded the keeper before blasting the ball into the top corner of the net.

With time ticking away substitute Ricky Ravenhill danced into the area and a tackle from Ben Smith left the Darlington man on the floor in the 82nd minute.

The home side's desperate appeals for a penalty were again turned away by the unimpressed referee.

Darlington Team

Hereford United Team

Darlington

Hereford United

Corners

9 2

Fouls

13 4

Goal attempts

11 11

Shots off target

3 3

Offsides

0 1

advertisment

advertisement