The Quakers lost their position at the top of the league table after being held by third placed Stourbridge at Heritage Park, but they produced a real gutsy performance to hold on to a point.

Stephen Thompson gave Darlington the lead after just four minutes with a solo strike.

Former Carlisle striker Karl Hawley then levelled after half an hour for the visitors.

Darlington went into the game without Alan White and Chris Hunter through suspension and their defensive problems were worsened when captain Kevin Burgess was injured during the warm-up.

Martin Gray started new signing Anthony Callaghan and Terry Galbraith at centre-back with Leon Scott at left-back.

The Quakers had the perfect start when inside the opening minutes Thompson gave them the lead. The winger picked up a loose ball and drove at the home defence before passing the ball into the corner of the net.

The rest of the half would prove to be a struggle for the makeshift defence with Pete Jameson twice keeping Darlington ahead. He first smothered from Hawley at the near post before making another smart stop shortly after. Leon Scott also made a goal-saving tackle from Jameson parried an effort, and Scott somehow prevented Karl Hawley from tapping in.

The equaliser was coming and it was Hawley who struck after 30 minutes when he easily finished after being played in on goal.

Recent acquisition Lee Gaskell nearly regained the lead for Darlington, but his fierce volley went just over the top just before half-time.

Half-time saw Scott move to the centre of defence with Callaghan going to left-back. The second half was more even, but the Quakers were again thankful for Jameson, as he made a brilliant double save.

[caption id="attachment_14092" align="alignnone" width="273"] Man of the match Peter Jameson[/caption]

Adam Mitchell had a strike from outside the box go just over the top of the bar.

Graeme Armstrong, who had come on mid-way through the half,  came close with a header from a free-kick late on, but it was the visitors who missed a glorious chance to win the game in stoppage time. Hawley was unmarked in the area, but was unable to direct his header on target as the game finished all square.

Darlington’s next match is on Tuesday night at home to Workington, kick-off is 7:45 pm.

Darlington team: Jameson, Callaghan, Gibbons, Scott, Galbraith, Portas, Turnbull, Thompson, Mitchell, Cartman(Armstrong), Gaskell

Attendance 1141