​Downes had only met his new Hereford squad hours before their clash against play-off chasing Darlington, but led them to a 1-0 victory. Ahead of the game Hereford added both Harry Tustin and Freddy Willcox on a month-long loan deal from Cheltenham Town, and they both made their debut against Darlington. Tustin joins after previously being on loan at National League South side Salisbury. Meanwhile, 20-year-old defender Willcox has been on loan at fellow National League North side Oxford City. Downes took charge of his first match and looked to break a run of three consecutive league defeats, with Harry Pell joining Adam Rooney and Shaun Edwards in his coaching staff. They came up against a Darlington side with play-off ambitions following a run of three wins in their last five. The Quakers started on the front foot and the experienced Cedric Main cross for Tom Tweedy who headed wide at the back post. Darlington continued to probe in the opening 10 minutes and a cross flashed into the six-yard box just evaded the clutches of Jack Maskell. However, Downes’ new side played their way into the game and Nottingham Forest loanee Cormac Daly played debutant Harry Tustin through on goal, who rounded the goalkeeper but saw his effort denied by the leg of goalkeeper Rory Watson. The Bulls went close again on 21 minutes after a corner dropped kindly inside their opposition’s box. However, the ball was scrambled away off the line before Watson kept the rebound out. Tustin was having a fine first half on his Bulls debut and was played through on goal four minutes late, only to be denied by the legs of goalkeeper Watson. The Quakers finished the first half strongly and Kallum Griffiths tried to catch goalkeeper Theo Richardson off his line with a dipping effort which was tipped over. Hereford almost gave their visitors an opener two minutes before the break. A moment of miss-communication resulted in defender Matt Preston sending his pass past goalkeeper Richardson, who saved the day by clawing the ball off his own goal-line. Maskell gave Hereford problems all night and forced goalkeeper Richardson back into action on action to deny his volley. However, it was the Bulls who finished the game strongest, firstly with debutant Tustin curling his effort wide. Experienced striker Andy Williams then went close, but saw his header denied by the boot of substitute Max Howells. Loanee Hereford striker George Munday then got to the byline before finding Tustin whose effort produced another fine save on 72 minutes. At the opposite end Darlington came an inch away from finding the opener themselves as Ellis Stanton glanced a ball through a packed box and off the post. With a minute left on the clock Downes’ side find a decisive winner with Daly charging forward before Aaron Skinner was tripped inside the box. The referee was in no doubt over the penalty and Skinner regained his feet before dispatching the spot-kick