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In a relatively even National League North encounter, clear-cut chances were at a premium before Skinner’s late spot-kick settled it — ending Hereford’s eight-game winless run and securing only their second home league clean sheet of the season, albeit in Worcester due to pitch issues at Edgar Street.
Watson felt Darlington should have made their control count.
“I think we played some really good stuff up until the final third and in the final third it just didn’t happen tonight,” he said. “Whether it be composure, decision-making, just that bit of quality — we just couldn’t find it from anywhere.”
Darlington enjoyed spells of possession and registered efforts from distance, but Watson conceded they did not test Theo Richardson enough.
“We didn’t really test their keeper anything like our positions should have caused them chaos really,” he said. “From crosses we didn’t get on the end of any, it was all just nearly. The shooting was really snatchy, nothing clean. And the final pass — no composure.”
The late nature of the defeat made it all the more painful.
“It’s a tough one to take, especially with the length of the journey for the fans and for us,” Watson admitted. “If you don’t do well in front of goal but you come away with a point, every point away from home is a decent point. So to have that at the end of the game as well, that’s a really bitter pill to swallow.”
Asked about the penalty decision, he was measured.
“I’ve seen it once live, so it’s difficult for me to say,” he added, while acknowledging Hereford’s managerial change may have given the hosts added impetus.
Despite the frustration, Watson insisted perspective is required.
“The lack of quality certainly isn’t a lack of quality in the dressing room — it was just a lack of quality tonight on the pitch,” he said. “It was one of those awful nights where nobody seemed to get it right. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and get on with it.”