A strong Darlington line-up took the lead in the second half through a header from outgoing captain Gary Brown.

However, York equalised minutes later, through a trialist, to come away from Heritage Park with a draw.

Martin Gray selected a strong team, which included summer signings Kevin Burgess and Phil Turnbull.  The side also included a trialist, number 11, who played on the left-wing.

York brought a mixed team to Heritage Park, which included the experienced goalkeeper Mike Ingham who made three appearances for the Quakers.

The start of the match was a scrappy affair, with Darlington slightly edging the game without testing Ingham. David Dowson, Tom Portas and the trialist all had shots from the edge of the box, but none were able to find the target.

The trialist came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half after 42 minutes, when his shot was well saved by Ingham low down and Dowson couldn't turn the ball home.

At the other end York often threatened on the counter-attack, but Jameson remained relatively untested.

The second half saw a string of changes for Darlington with Gary Brown, Alan White and Ian Watson all coming on. Only Jameson and the trialist played the full 90 minutes.

Late on Stephen Thompson, who had earlier been substituted, came back on up-front to feature in an unlikely pairing in attack with Brown and it was the defender who broke the deadlock on 72 minutes.

Darlington won a free-kick on the right hand side of the penalty area, Adam Mitchell put the ball into the box and Brown headed home.

Unfortunately for the Quakers the lead was only to last a matter of minutes, as one of York trialist’s raced in behind the defence to poke the ball past Jameson and make it 1-1.

The game opened up in the final quarter of an hour. Thompson had a fantastic long range strike tipped round the post by Ingham, as Darlington pushed for a winner.

At the other end Femi Ilesanmi could have won the game for the visitors, but missed the ball when it fell to him in the box.

In stoppage-time Darlington thought they had won the game when substitute Alex Kitchen rose highest from a corner, but his effort was blocked on the line and cleared away.

The Quakers next game is away to fellow Evo-Stik Premier side Whitby Town on Saturday.

Darlington team – Jameson, McNamee, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Hunter, Thompson, Portas, Cartman, Dowson, Trialist.