DARLINGTON earned a crucial three points in their fight for survival as they overcame Hereford at Blackwell Meadows.

Ben Liddle hit on the counter-attack to put the home side in front after 25 minutes before Matthew Cornish sealed the victory in stoppage time as the Bulls chased the game.

Darlington’s new signing Cedric Main had an immediate impact in the 13th minute but his headed effort was blocked on the six-yard line by Jason Cowley who subsequently cleared.

Fresh from their win at Rushall the Bulls looked to respond and Yusifu Ceesay carried the ball into the box before firing a shot off at the near post, with Tommy Taylor in the Quakers goal on hand to parry the ball away.

The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when a swift counter from Darlington saw Main burst down the wing before pulling the ball back for Liddle in the box to finish.

Steve Watson’s side were close to doubling their lead just before half-time when Lassana Mendes made a vital block from Will Hatfield’s effort with Pond also saving from the rebound.

At the opposite end Maziar Kouhyar’s free-kick picked out Kyle Howkins towards the back post in the 52nd minute but the defender’s header was comfortably saved by Taylor.

A fast break from Darlington on the hour mark saw Main play through Cameron Salkeld who rattled his low driven effort against the post before Hatfield blazed the rebound over the bar.

The hosts were looking for an important second goal and Jonny Ngandou drove with the ball before firing a shot off on the edge of the box, forcing Pond into producing a fine one-handed save.

Hereford almost had an equaliser on 79 minutes when Kouhyar’s corner found the run of Jason Cowley who directed his effort goalwards but it lacked sufficient power to trouble Taylor.

Darlington secured all three points in the 91st minute when Cornish latched onto a through ball before firing past Pond and into the bottom corner of the net.

Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Teixeira (Babos 73), Ceesay, Cowley, Kouhyar, Obadeyi (Williams 64), Mendes, Southern (Rooney 84), Cameron, Howkins

Unused Subs: Livingstone, Tanor