DARLINGTON kept up their momentum towards the League Two play-offs by extending their unbeaten run to 13 games.

But, in a generally disappointing contest, they were made to battle all the way by the Bulls who came close to snatching a point with two late chances.

With time running out, Danny Thomas saw a low drive saved by diving home goalkeeper Sam Russell at the foot of a post.

And then, deep into injury time, Tim Sills got clear and lifted his shot over Russell but also, unfortunately for the Bulls man, inches over the bar.

Darlington had begun in lively fashion at their impressive new, all-seater 25,000-capacity stadium and long-range drives from Tommy Wright and Craig Keltie flashed narrowly over Wayne Brown's goal.

Then, full-back Evan Horwood surged through only to direct an angled drive across the goal and wide.

But Hereford created chances, too, and could easily have broken the deadlock in the first period.

After 20 minutes, a Thomas cross picked out Steve Guinan on the edge of the area, but the striker on loan from Cheltenham Town, stabbed his shot wide of an upright.

Then, a long goal-kick by Brown was slipped into the path of Rob Purdie by Alan Connell.

Purdie's surging run took him into the home penalty area but his finish did not match the approach work and Russell saved comfortably.

Connell himself then had a chance to score. He rose well to meet a cross from skipper Ben Smith but headed wide of the goal.

Connell almost got on the end of a good move early in the second period when impressive work by Thomas, Guinan and Luke Webb had opened up the Darlington defence.

And Thomas tried his luck, following a good Purdie pass, but lifted his 20-yard shot just over the bar.

Hereford were made to pay for not taking their chances in the 64th minute.

Andy Williams headed a Keltie corner away but the ball was returned and Wright found the space to make his header count.

Hereford battled away, despite the loss of Webb, who had to have three stitches in a head wound after an accidental clash of heads.

Andy Ferrell came on to replace him and Sills came on for Connell as the Bulls pressed forward.

But, despite the late chances for Thomas and Sills, Darlington held out and extended Hereford's run to five games without a win.

Now, bar some sort of statistical miracle, United's own play-off chances have disappeared and it will be League Two football at Edgar Street again next season.

Hereford: Brown; Travis, Rose, Mkandawire, Purdie; Williams, Webb (Ferrell, 73 min), Smith, Thomas; Guinan, Connell (Sills, 78 min). Subs not used: Thompson, Gulliver, McClenahan.

Attendance: 3,615.