Quakers played their final match of 2005 away to Lincoln City when they clawed their way back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to claim a point. (writes Craig Stoddart)

All looked lost at Sincil Bank when David Hodgson’s side fell 2-0 behind having played poorly inside the first 30 minutes.

Goals by Gareth McAuley and Marvin Robinson had given the Imps the lead, scoring past Darlington’s debutant goalkeeper David Knight, on loan from Middlesbrough.

And in the first minute of injury time Quakers’ Akpo Sodje allowed frustration to get the better of him, lunging in on Luke Foster, resulting in a red card.

But at the break Hodgson sent on substitutes Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Carlos Logan, switching to 3-4-2, Brian Close playing as the only central defender, and Quakers suddenly turned a dismal display into one of their best of 2005.

Ndumbu-Nsungu led the recovery. He set up Tresor Kandol's first for the club and then Ndumbu-Nsungu scored an impressive leveller with a turn and volley from 12 yards.

Kandol is pictured scoring past goalkeeper Alan Marriott, who, incidentally, played for Mansfield Town at Wembley in 2011.

“We never really got started in the first half; we were at sixes and sevens to a certain extent,” said Hodgson.

“But even at 2-0 I felt we would get a goal and we would get back into the game. It was a fantastic performance but we should have won it with Carlos Logan missing a chance late on.”

Darlington: Knight, Close (Appleby 85), Clarke, Martis, Kendrick (Logan 45), Wainwright, Dickman, Keltie, Johnson (Ndumbu-Nsungu 45), Kandol, Sodje. Subs (not used): Peacock, Valentine

Attendance: 4,008