Darlington 1 Oxford City 1

Brown 20 mins 0-1, Kilsby 84 mins 1-1

Darlington showed plenty of spirit and intensity to deservedly draw against Oxford City.

With new manager Craig Elliott watching from the stands, Quakers put in a battling performance against the promotion-chasing side, but they couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net until Max Kilsby struck with six minutes left.

The game started at a good tempo, and Jacob Render drew applause from the fans for chasing a defender to the touchline and winning the ball, but was then crowded out in the penalty area.

Quakers appealed for a back pass on 10 minutes when a ball forward by Toby Lees was knocked back to Oxford keeper Jon Maxted by a defender, but the referee waved play on.

Oxford threatened for the first time when a ball through the middle nearly found Ellis Brown but Shea Connor was quickly off his line to grab the ball.

But they took the lead when Scott Pollock forced a good save out of Connor with a shot on the turn and Ellis Brown scored from the loose ball.

Quakers nearly levelled straight away with a deep cross to the far post by Ben Hedley to Mark Beck, whose header dropped just wide of the right hand post.

And then Stephenson hoisted the ball into the Oxford penalty area where Hazel controlled the ball well, but his effort was deflected over.

Oxford nearly scored another though on 38 minutes when a neat backheel in the area found Brown , whose low shot was blocked by Connor at his near post.

Spirited Quakers nearly equalised just on half time when some lively play by Render out on the left saw him beat a defender and cross into the middle, where Mark Beck’s header was saved under the bar by Maxted

Half time: Darlington 0 Oxford City 1

The second half started with four corners for the visitors, but the home side dealt with them well.

Quakers had plenty of possession, but couldn’t open up well-organised and strong defence.

Quakers made a sub on 63 minutes when Ciaran Thompson replaced Toby Lees. Soon after Render made a good run down the left, but was crowded out in the penalty area.

The closing stages of the game belonged to Quakers, who moved up a gear.

They nearly levelled on 69 minutes when Thompson crossed from the right for Beck, who swivelled quickly but pulled his effort wide of the left hand post.

And they had another chance when Stephenson broke quickly down the right and put the ball into the six yard box, but neither Beck nor Hazel could get on the end of it.

Then defender Luke Bell charged forward from the back and hit a right foot shot that just cleared the crossbar.

Quakers deservedly levelled on 84 minutes when a corner came in from the left, and Max Kilsby glanced the ball home -- his first goal for the club.

Team: 

Connor, Hedley, Lees (sub Thompson 63), Bell, Kilsby, McLaughlin, Stanton (sub Hatfield 90), Render (sub Henson 85), Stephenson, Hazel, Beck.

Subs: JOnes, Walker, Hatfield, Hetherington, Rutledge,