Darlington were left stunned at Edgar Street as Hereford United inflicted Quakers' only second league defeat of the season, but the number of goals they conceded was as a big a shock, if not bigger, than losing.

Until Saturday Dave Penney's side had only conceded five goals all season, but that total was doubled as a rampant Hereford tore through Darlington's normally strong defence to score five goals.

Prior to Saturday, Quakers were yet to concede a league goal before half-time but, on a day of firsts, the opening goal came after just four minutes with Richard Rose heading home a corner.

And just two minutes later the situation was almost repeated as Rose again was first to meet the ball ahead of the static Darlington defence at a corner, but this time the ball went straight to keeper David Stockdale.

However, despite a strong Hereford start, it was soon 1-1 thanks Joe Colbeck's first for the club and Quakers' equaliser owed much to Julian Joachim who returned to the starting line-up after injury as one of three changes.

Colbeck kept his place on the right-wing which meant Joachim started as a striker alongside Tommy Wright, who also returned after serving a suspension, and from a position on the left Joachim passed to Colbeck on the penalty spot to equalise on 16 minutes.

For a short spell Darlington appeared comfortable, but a quick passing movement carved Quakers' defence open and Theo Robinson passed the ball past Stockdale for 2-1 with only 22 minutes gone.

After reaching the break without conceding any more goals, Penney sent his team out for the second half with his words of encouragement ringing in their ears, but just 60 seconds after the re-start it was 3-1.

The goal was scored by Ben Smith, but it was a fluke and that made it all the more frustrating for Quakers who had previously only conceded as many as two goals in a league game this season. That was against Notts County who took advantage of slack defending, but this time Smith benefitted from a piece of good fortune.

Defender Alan White tried to clear the ball but it hit Smith and bounced off him straight into the net from 12 yards past a bemused Stockdale.

Tim Ryan was the other player handed a start by Penney, but the fourth Hereford goal came after Lionel Ainsworth beat the left-back for pace on the wing and, with Steve Foster dragged out of position to cover for Ryan, crossed for Trevor Benjamin to pass the ball into the net for 4-1 with still half an hour to play.

At this stage Penney made some substitutions with Clark Keltie and Ryan replaced by Micky Cummins and Gregg Blundell, but the defence, which had previously kept nine clean sheets, remained less than convincing.

Blundell had a downwards header well-saved by keeper Wayne Brown who also thwarted an effort from Colbeck who was the only Darlington player to emerge with much credit from clearly Quakers' worst performance of the season.

Their misery was complete when, after good work up the right wing by Trent McClenahan, Clint Easton fired past Stockdale in injury time.

Watch the match highlights from Monday, November 5