IF Darlington are to be in the play-off mix come May, then manager David Hodgson will no doubt recall how they achieved it the hard way.

It's fair to say that nothing is assured in the wonderful - and often unpredictable - world of Darlington. Not even a two-goal lead.

Hodgson's men may have responded creditably, 48 hours after losing to second bottom Kidderminster Harriers, but they will need to instill some gritty resilience if they are to be considered as serious promotion material.

Yesterday's capitulation was typical of Quakers' erratic ways this season - a trend which is seriously jeopardising their promotion prospects.

Jason St Juste's sublime solo effort in the 62nd minute appeared to put Quakers in the driving seat at 3-1.

But after Steve Elliott pulled a goal back for Bristol Rovers in the 69th minute Richard Walker cruelly denied Quakers a precious win, levelling three minutes later.

Quakers remain one place outside the play-off zone in eighth and two points below seventh-placed Northampton.

Typically, Hodgson showed little fear in ringing the changes with the Harriers defeat still fresh in the mind, making no fewer than six swaps. The most surprising inclusion was that of Craig Hignett, returning to the side following a groin injury. With Akpo Sodje struggling with a side injury, Hignett partnered Craig Russell in attack.

After almost two months on the sidelines with a knee injury, youngster Chris Hughes earned a recall at the expense of Ryan Valentine.

Craig Russell had failed to score in his previous 27 attempts on goal this season. However, it took the forward just 55 seconds to get off the mark yesterday.

Hughes was instrumental in Quakers' early goal. The wing-back latched on to Craig Russell's deft flick-on down the right, before squaring for the former Sunderland striker, who kept his cool to tuck the ball past Ryan Clarke.

Rovers searched for a quick reply, with Craig Disley and Aaron Lescott both failing to trouble Quakers keeper Sam Russell with tame efforts.

With 14 minutes played Adolfo Gregorio came close to doubling Quakers' advantage when his cross-cum-shot looped over Ryan Clarke and off the top of the crossbar.

The Rovers keeper was then spared more blushes in the 20th minute when he fumbled Hignett's speculative 35-yard effort, before the home side eventually cleared.

And only the timely intervention of defender John Anderson prevented Hignett from scoring moments later.

Craig Russell should have added his second of the afternoon in the 25th minute. After a defensive mix-up the forward only had Ryan Clarke to beat but his attempted lob was comfortably collected by the Rovers stopper.

At the other end Richard Walker's header had Sam Russell beaten only for the upright to come to Quakers' rescue.

Just 48 hours after referee Paul Robinson limped off at the Williamson Motors Stadium through injury, the assistant referee was forced off yesterday after suffering a hamstring strain.

When play resumed Sam Russell was at full stretch to brilliantly tip away Robbie Ryan's curling effort.

And, in the third minute of injury time - after the fourth official held up a minimum of two minutes - the Quakers keeper was beaten. After the visiting defence failed to clear their lines Walker was at the back post to send the ball - via a Matt Clarke deflection - past the ex-Middlesbrough stopper with the last kick of the half.

However, Rovers' foothold in the game was only short-lived as Hignett restored Quakers' lead in the 50th minute from a hotly disputed penalty. Referee Keith Stroud felt St Juste was pushed in the box by Lescott, although the winger appeared to fall over his own feet.

Once again Rovers were left chasing the game as Junior Agogo and Disley both tested Sam Russell after the restart.

St Juste appeared to have put the contest beyond Rovers when he hit the goal of the game in 62nd minute. The teenage winger - in his first season of professional football - dodged his way past several defenders, before confidently tucking the ball past Ryan Clarke.

Elliott restored hopes for Rovers when he pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, powering his header past Sam Russell.

And just three minutes later Walker was on hand to level for Rovers, calmly slotted the ball past the Quakers keeper.

In the 78th minute Ryan Clarke acrobatically tipped away Adrian Webster's curling free-kick.

Rovers should have taken the lead a minute later when Walker directed his close-range header straight at the keeper.

* Elsewhere in Division Two, Southend moved into the Coca-Cola League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win at Cambridge.

Veteran defender Spencer Prior put the ball beyond Cambridge goalkeeper John Ruddy after 22 minutes and the rock-bottom Us gave little in reply before Adam Barrett headed home a minute before half-time.

A controversial late equaliser gave promotion-chasing Macclesfield a point in a 1-1 home draw with Boston.

The Pilgrims took the lead in the 15th minute when David Noble converted a penalty after a foul on Jermaine Easter. The home side piled on the pressure but only broke through six minutes from time when Mark Bailey's goal-bound header appeared to have been cleared off the line, only for the officials to judge it had crossed.

Leon Britton hit a late winner as Swansea overtook Macclesfield in fourth place, beating Cheltenham 2-1 at Whaddon Road. (reopens)

Scunthorpe failed to reclaim second place from Southend as they went down 2-0 at play-off hopefuls Lincoln.

Result: Bristol Rovers 3 Darlington 3.

Read more about the Quakers here.