Darlington 2 Hereford 0

Liddle 25 mins, 1-0, Cornish 90 mins, 2-0

Attendance 1437

Thanks to our match sponsors Unknown Creative

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and our matchball sponsors Cadec

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Goals from Ben Liddle and Matty Cornish gave Quakers only their second home win of the season against Hereford.

It was an all-round determined and accomplished performance by Quakers, with new signing Cedric Main making a huge difference up front with his pace and link up play.

They stay second from bottom, but this could be a big turning point in their season. After scoring just once in their previous six games, they scored twice in this one, while they kept their second clean sheet in four matches under Steve Watson.

Here are the goals, and reaction from Steve and debutants Cedric Main and Matty Cornish

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-from-win-over-hereford

It was a fairly low key start to the game until the 8^th minute when Kallum Griffiths tried to force his way into the Hereford box but was pulled up for a foul.

Quakers got their first corner from a loose backpass on 13 minutes, and quickly got a second one. Jonny Ngandu’s corner was nodded down by Tom Platt and there were appeals for a handball which the ref waved away.

Ngandu forced another corner on the left on 17 minutes, and Ben Hedley’s inswinging corner bounced off a defender before the ball was held by Pond.

Quakers first chance came on 19 minutes. Cedric Main, who was looking very lively, picked the ball up on the right side of the box and picked out Griffiths, whose low shot was blocked.

Hereford’s first chance came on 23 minutes, when Ceesay worked his way into the box and fired from an acute angle, but Tommy Taylor saved one-handed.

Quakers took the lead on 25 minutes. Griffiths cleared the ball up the right for Main to pick up, run into the box and square for Ngandu to step over the ball for Ben Liddle to sidefoot in his first goal of the season, and only Quakers' second in the last seven matches.

It was nearly 2-0 on 32 minutes. Hedley, who had moved into the middle, controlled a pass from Will Hatfield, took a touch, and then hit a right foot shot just wide of the left hand post.

Hereford threatened on 37 minutes when Ceesay pulled the ball into the box for Obadeyi to have a shot well blocked by Hedley.

Hereford gave themselves a scare when a poor back pass to Pond, saw the keeper's clearance charged down by Main, but the ball rebounded wide.

Hereford gained a corner on 40 minutes, but Platt headed the ball away at the near post.

There was a chance for Quakers when Ngandu burst down the left and put the ball into the middle where Hatfield and Nelson had shots blocked by Pond

It had been a good first half for Quakers, which was appreciated by the fans.

Half time 1-0

Hereford tried to force Quakers back at the start of the second half, but some good challenges by Quakers on the edge of their own box kept them out.

Quakers were forced into a sub on 51 minutes when Nelson limped off and was replaced by Cameron Salkeld. Whilst they were preparing that, Hereford had a free kick which Howkins headed into Taylor’s hands.

It was nearly 2-0 on 58 minutes. Quakers broke up the middle through Main, and he played the ball perfectly into the path of Salkeld, whose angled right foot shot hit the base of the left hand post, and Liddle, following up, fired over the top.

After Taylor stopped a one-on-one, Ngandu broke away, cut in from the left, ran at the Hereford defence and struck a right foot shot that Pond just managed to turn over the bar.

At the other end, Hatfield threw himself at Ceesay’s feet to stop a shot from close range.

Ngandu then sent Hedley clear up the left, and the full back hit a low shot that Pond saved at full stretch, and Salkeld’s follow up was blocked.

On 67 minutes, a patient build up on the right ended with Hatfield slipping Griffiths through, but Pond saved the full back’s shot at full stretch.

Quakers made their second sub on 72 minutes, Adriano Moke coming on for Liddle.

Jake Lawlor and Toby Lees in turn then put in some good solid challenges on the edge of their own box.

Quakers made their third sub on 76 minutes , Cornish coming on for Ngandu.

Hereford nearly scored on 78 minutes, when Cowley found space to volley an outswinging corner, but straight at Taylor.

Good play by Moke and Hatfield set a chance up for Cornish, but his shot was blocked.

And there was a huge cheer on 90 minutes when Salkeld controlled the ball in midfield, found Cornish bursting through on the left, and he played the ball perfectly into the sub’s path for him to score with a left foot shot into the bottom corner. A goal on his debut and relief all around the ground.

Quakers then safely negotiated the remainder of the game without any issues.

Final score: Darlington 2 Hereford 0

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Lees, Lawlor, Hedley, Platt, Liddle (sub Moke 72), Hatfield, Ngandu (sub Cornish 76), Nelson (sub Salkeld 53), Main

Subs: Curry,  Siddik

Bookings: Platt (foul 28) Liddle (kicking the ball away 50), Moke (kicking the ball away 90)

Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Teixeia, Ceesay, Cowley, Kouhyar, Boadeyi, Mendes, Southern, Cameron, Howkins

Subs: Livingstone, Babos, Williams, Tanor, Rooney

Booking: Ceesay