​A wonder free-kick from Lawson D’Ath looked to have earned Hereford an important point against a promotion chasing Harriers side, only for a late twist in the tale.

However, that was until 94th minute when skipper David Davis’ strike took a cruel deflection off defender Matt Preston and into the net.

“We’re not getting a lot of what we deserve at the minute,” said Downes. “ It’s a cruel game at times. The boys didn’t deserve that. They did everything we asked of them.

“They worked ever so hard. We had a good shape about us. We have done everything we needed to do to get something out of the game.

“Whether we deserve to win it, I’m not sure, but we definitely didn’t deserve to lose that game.

“We need to turn it around, that needs to be a draw. We can stop the rot, and we can onto something else.

“Seeing that last couple minutes out is the frustrating thing. That is unfair, but you don’t always get what you deserve.”

Despite being cemented inside the play-off positions Harriers came into the game following a run of poor form with three defeats in four games.

Adam Murray’s side had an early point to prove and went within inches of taking the lead with seven minutes gone.

Seb Thompson cut inside the pitch and then and then hit a thunderous effort that flew back off the junction between the post and crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

The opener came on 22 minutes when Emeka Obi and Josh Robindon combined before the latter crossed for Ryley Reynolds who glanced the ball past the goalkeeper.

Hereford came back into the match and almost had an equaliser five minutes before the break when Harry Tustin’s cross was caught in the wind and skimmed the top of the crossbar.

The Bulls did equalise two minutes later when Lawson D’Ath’s wonderous 43rd minute free-kick curled around the four-man wall and crashed into the net.

The second half provided few opportunities for either side and Harriers became increasingly desperate to find a winner.

They were limited to inviting crosses into the box and goalkeeper Theo Richardson was forced to tip over a speculative free-kick.

Then in the 94th minute Davies hit Hereford with a cruel blow as his effort outside the box flew up off Preston and into the net.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner (Quansah 80), Preston, D’Ath (Martin 70), Lane (Donawa 90), Munday, Daly, James, Willcox, Tustin, Howkins.

Subs: Lewis, Williams, Oppong,

With the Bulls still cut adrift in the National League North relegation spots Downes urged his players to not let the defeat ‘define them’.

He added: “We need to make sure that we’re a little bit stronger.

“We have to be because we need to see these games out. Whether that’s me, whether that’s the players, the detail, we need something to change for us.

“I’ve just got to keep the players going. I said to them ‘don’t let this define us’. It’s in our hands and we’ve still got a chance for us to be a Nati