Darlington manager Alun Armstrong felt his side did enough to take all three points but admitted they didn't finish off several chances they created.
"We gave them a goal, we missed a penalty and missed quite a few decent chances that we created," said Armstrong.
"I thought we dominated possession."
Armstrong felt that Hereford's early goal had caught out Darlington.
"They shouldn't have done it, they know the routine, they've tried to play when they're not really up to speed and they've been caught.
"But give the lads credit they bounced back and I thought we dominated the first half without actually penetrating them too much but when we did penetrate we got the penalty."
Brandon Hall saved Hatfield's penalty.
Armstrong felt had the penalty gone in then Darlington would have controlled the game after that.
"But it swayed again as we missed. That happens in games. But credit to Will (Hatfield) he kept going.
"We got our just rewards.
"Pitch was lively, a little bit bobbly.
"But we weren't getting that little final bit in the first half. Second half we created a few chances but we didn't attack enough set-plays."