Quakers have made a habit of keeping clean sheets this season but were undone at Edger Street in spectacular fashion. Despite having several key players out of action in recent weeks Darlington have continued to grind out results. Quakers' formidable defensive record has also remained unhurt by absent players but Hereford managed to put five past their visitors in what must have been one of the most unexpected results on the day.

Tommy Wright returned from a one game suspension to boost Darlington's striking options whilst Julian Joachim, who had been used as a winger for most of the season, moved up front to partner Wright while Matt Green dropped to the bench. Hereford United meanwhile welcomed loan signing Robert Threlfall into their side following his arrival from Liverpool.

Theo Robinson's pace caused Darlington problems for much of the afternoon and his dangerous ball across the area in the opening minutes resulted in the game's opening goal. Quakers scrambled the ball behind but the resulting corner saw Richard Rose head home unchallenged.

Moments after conceding only their sixth goal of the season Robinson fired a low shot wide of Darlington's near post. Quakers' usually tight defence was not dealing with corners and another flag kick again found Rose. This time his strong header was caught by David Stockdale. Darlington's opening ten minutes was far from impressive. A free kick twenty-five yards out after eight minutes was powerfully struck through the wall by Threlfall but Stockdale managed to somehow palm the ball away with a superb stop.

Robinson again went close as he forced Stockdale into a low save. Quakers finally managed to find a foothold in the game after the home side's good opening fifteen minutes and equalised with their first real strike on goal. Joachim's excellent work down the left saw him pull the ball back into the middle of the penalty area where Joe Colbeck, one of the highlights of the afternoon, struck home for his first goal in a Darlington shirt.

After dragging themselves level Darlington fell behind again just as quickly. Robinson had already proved a huge headache for the Quakers' rearguard and he fired in a deserved goal after Ben Smith laid the ball off in the area for the forward to strike low into the bottom corner. With so few goals conceded this season Hereford were proving a shock to the system. The game though was open at the opposite end as Joachim found Rob Purdie, playing against his former club, on the edge of the area but his shot went over the bar without troubling Wayne Brown.

Ten minutes later Purdie latched onto a pass from Ricky Ravenhill and pushed forward down the left flank. His cross found Joachim with his back to goal but the former Villa man was always struggling to control the ball as the Bulls cleared for a corner as Quakers had a brief spell of pressure. With just over five minutes left until half-time Lionel Ainsworth fired well wide as Wright also shot wide of the mark at the other end.

Prior to this game only Notts County have scored more goals against Darlington but moments into the second half it became Hereford. The third goal was always going to be crucial but it fell to the home side and killed off any chance Darlington had of getting something from this encounter. Trevor Benjamin's shot took a massive deflection off Alan White and Smith finished it off by turning the ball home to make the score 3-1.

Hereford threatened to extend their lead when another corner was headed over by John McCombe on fifty-one minutes. Five minutes later Colbeck won a corner for Darlington as they applied some pressure for the first time in the second half. Quakers won two more flag kicks however the home side pushed further in front as they broke downfield. Ainsworth's low ball into the box was slotted home by Benjamin as Darlington's slim hopes of rescuing a point totally disappeared after fifty-seven minutes.

With over twenty minutes left the home side started to pass the ball around at will as they made Darlington chase shadows. Ravenhill tried a rare break up field but was brushed off the ball with ease. Clint Easton picked up the pieces after a seventieth minute foul by Steve Foster which led to a free kick on the right flank just outside the area. The ball was cleared but only as far as Easton who fired wide. With quarter of an hour left Colbeck tried to keep Darlington's interest in the game alive with a shot which Brown pushed away. Shortly afterwards Robinson made way for ex-Darlington player Simon Johnson who immediately won a corner.

Colbeck continued to be Darlington's bright spark and with time running out he collected a ball off Green in the area but shot well over the bar as Quakers remained out of luck. Hereford made Darlington's afternoon even worse as Trent McClenahan squared for Easton to put his side 5-1 up in the dying moments to complete an afternoon to forget for Dave Penney's side.

Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, McCombe, Rose, Threlfall, Ainsworth (Webb 82), Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Robinson (Johnson 77), Benjamin (Taylor 89). Subs: Ingham, Gwynne, Johnson, Webb, Taylor.

Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Foster, Ryan (Cummins 59), Colbeck, Keltie (Blundell 61), Ravenhill, Purdie, Joachim, Wright (Green 73). Subs: Oakes, Miller, Cummins, Blundell, Green.

Hereford bookings: None.

Darlington bookings: Foster

Goals: Rose 4th min (0-1), Colbeck 16th min (1-1), Robinson 22nd min (1-2), Smith 47th min (1-3), Benjamin 58th min (1-4), Easton 90th min (1-5).