WHILE Gary Mills' tenure as Notts County boss hung in the balance, until the 70th minute there was a feeling that Darlington were in the wrong place at the wrong time at Meadow Lane last night.

Mills appeared to have earned a brief reprieve from the County boo-boys - who had called for his head at Mansfield three days earlier - when they led with 20 minutes to go through Glynn Hurst's first half opener.

But former Middlesbrough striker Alun Armstrong salvaged a point for Quakers after a spirited second half fightback.

Armstrong's fourth goal for the club was enough to ensure that County did not earn their first home win since April.

In a disappointing opening 45 minutes Quakers showed few signs of improvement from Saturday's defeat at home to Bury.

But while much has been made of the flair Armstrong, Craig Hignett and Clyde Wijnhard have all brought to the club in recent weeks, it was sheer grit and determination which earned the draw.

If Darlington are to impose themselves on League Two the attitude David Hodgson's men showed will take them far.

However, the news that skipper Craig Liddle faces a month on the sidelines will come as a huge blow to Hodgson, who already has Curtis Fleming and Joey Hutchinson on the treatment table.

The first chance of the night fell to the home side after four minutes. County midfielder Tony Scully was allowed space down the right, before crossing for Gavin Gordon, whose downward header bounced off the surface and over the bar from eight yards out.

A minute later pint-sized striker Hurst crossed from the right - again unmarked - for Paul Bolland, who dragged his effort wide.

County continued to dominate and Bolland should have done better with the time he was allowed on the ball on the edge of the area, sending a tame shot well wide of Sam Russell's goal.

But with Neil Maddison bossing the midfield for the visitors, Quakers found more composure on the ball after a nervy opening.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Matt Clarke - a summer transfer target for County - headed off the line to deny Hurst.

Moments later Russell was at full-stretch to smother Chris Palmer's low drive from 30 yards.

Russell was then left stranded as Bolland's attempted effort from inside the box took a wicked deflection off a Quakers defender and flew just inches wide. From the resulting corner the 5ft 10in Hurst headed over unmarked.

Hurst made the visitors pay for more slack marking in the 28th minute when he put County one up.

After Joe Kendrick conceded a free-kick on the left flank, Palmer whipped over an inviting cross and Hurst was quickest to react to head home his ninth goal of the season.

In a disappointing first-half Quakers were booed off by the 324 travelling fans after failing to record a single effort on goal.

Shortly after the restart, Quakers began to show more fire and Brian Close saw his daisy-cutter deflected wide from Wijnhard's pull-back.

Quakers were fortunate not to fall further behind in the 62nd minute when goalscorer Hurst cut inside Clarke, before stabbing inches wide from ten yards out.

County continued to push forward for a killer second goal.

But after Gordon came within inches of doubling the lead, Quakers drew level on 70 minutes.

On a rare foray forward, American winger Adolfo Gregorio curled the ball over from the right and Armstrong dived in bravely to head past Deeney.

Russell had to be alert minutes after the restart when he pushed Stefan Oakes' free-kick around the post.

At the other end County defender Julien Baudet read Kendrick's cross from the left, with Armstrong lurking at the near post.

Ian Clark almost claimed a winner late on when his header from Kendrick's cross was brilliantly tipped over by Deeney.

* Quakers fans can watch their team on DVD from Friday. The club shop will be selling separate copies of the Southend and Bury games at £9.99 each