Any lingering hopes of a reprieve to secure automatic promotion now seem totally dead and buried after Darlington's disastrous run of form continued versus promotion rivals Hereford on Saturday.

Although not yet mathematically impossible, only the utmost optimist would harbour genuine belief that attaining third spot was possible and indeed the pragmatist would be wary that a play off spot, albeit is more than likely, is yet to be secured.

Next week's opponents Chesterfield still have a hope of edging out one of the top seven to extend their season in the play offs but only the absolute worse case scenario should effect Darlington - Chesterfield need to win all three remaining games and Darlington need at least two points so avoiding defeat at Saltersgate would guarantee Dave Penney a top seven finish.

However that is the very least of his problems at the moment as his team continue to play void of confidence, fluency, imagination and most of all ability.

Regardless of the inconceivable drought of strikers of late, Saturday was the first time two natural strikers were paired up front in nearly a month, the lack of creativity from the near-enough full strength midfield and the inconsistency of the presently very unconvincing defence, who again were at least partially at fault for the ease at which Gary Hopper grabbed Hereford's winner, is a cause for much concern.

Darlington's season has been built on the, at one point, impenetrable backline but form of late has seen many's player of the season Steve Foster look very drained, the backline lacking the bonding unity which it built its success upon and this lack of confidence is clearly rubbing of on Stockdale who was fortunate on Saturday to get away with a couple of howlers.

Similarly the lack of supply from the midfield and in particularly through the middle of the park would surmise that it wouldn't matter who was playing up front as the strikers are simply not seeing enough of the ball nor in the right areas when it is played towards them.

Tommy Wright again showed willing but he is wasted without a capable foil and in the lacking match practise Ndumbu-Nsungu, not famed for his workmanlike style, and so it's of little surprise the home side's attempts were at a premium - only 3 shots on target were registered on Saturday.

Hereford on the other hand, whose season conversely has been founded upon a electric and decisive forward line, looked much sharper and clued up in the last third. There play, vastly though the imperious Toumai Diagouraga, was quick and efficient and ultimately David Stockdale was kept pretty busy.

After just 8 minutes a flying block from Neil Austin in his 6 yard box denied Clint Easton's powerful strike, and the prolific Hopper, one of several very successful loan moves by Graham Barrow this season - some would contrast this to that of Dave Penney's, somehow fluffed a glorious opportunity with just Stockdale to beat after he was played in unmarked at the far post following a quick breakaway on the back of a rejected penalty shout for handball up the other end.

Just before the half hour a near freak goal threatened to tie a knot round the neck of Darlington's already ailing confidence as Easton's speculative yet decidedly tame long ranger hit a bobble a hit Stockdale square in the face as he was down preparing to collect, reminiscent of Stan Collymore's famous goal at Tim Flowers' expense. Thank goodness Stocky has a big head on his shoulders, but he did earlier come mighty close to a colossal and costly error when he rolled the ball out ready to kick unaware to the very last instance that Gary Hopper was still loitering in the penalty area and he was required to desperately hack the ball to safety as Hooper charged in.

But joking aside it was all Hereford, not necessarily in terms of possession or domination but certainly in terms of making the most of the ball when they had it.

Darlington's first serious attempt at goal wasn't until just before half time when Mickey Cummins looping header had to be expertly flicked over the bar by Wayne Brown.

Despite a number of corners, Cummins chance was the only real test fro Hereford and Brown as opportunities to apply the pressure went begging.

Again the effort couldn't be faulted but the effort has been there through out the recent baron run, and unfortunately effort will not get us promoted if its not converted into goals, into momentum, into confidence and into points.

The killer moment came in the 69th minute and it marked al but the end of Darlington's third place aspirations.

Slightly ironically considering the number of really slick and attractive moves Hereford had created through out the contest, a defensive lapse was probably the most significant factor in the Bulls' goal.

Hooper cut in from the right flank, forced his way past Steve Foster, weaved through a couple of other challenges before hitting home hard into the roof of the net at the second time of asking after his initial effort was well saved by Stockdale.

Ndumbu-Nsungu, who was clearly struggling for fitness and was later subbed, and Purdie both came closest fro the Quakers but it wasn't to be, just like it hasn't for the past month-and-a-half.

Quakerites can take solace in the fact that a fantastic start to the season has afforded them an adequate cushion to be able to be fairly comfortable of a second bite at promotion through the play offs but its still hard to stomach for most who before Christmas saw Dave Penney's men inn cruise control where they were almost always winning if not always playing well.

With Abbott, Joachim and possibly Foran to return for the play offs there is no doubting the firepower exists with in this Darlington side to achieve what we've twice failed at - Play Off finals.