Goal hero Ryan Valentine may have earned a deserved point by grabbing Darlington's equaliser but he wasn't entirely satisfied with his afternoon's work against Cambridge United yesterday.

Yesterday's 1-1 draw was the first time the Welsh full-back had had chance to play against one-time housemate and former Darlington teammate Ashley Nicholls since the midfielder left for the Us and although Valentine scored a 76th minute header to rescue a point, they rarely had chance to come face to face during the 90 minutes.

Nicholls initially joined Cambridge on loan last season but was prevented from playing when the teams met last season so having missed that opportunity the pair were finally in opposition yesterday with each having a major say in the outcome.

Valentine's goal, his fourth for the club, cancelled out Cambridge's opener which Nicholls created for Dan Chillingworth who played for Darlington on loan in 2001/02.

The, pair, who lived together during Nicholls' 18-month stay in the North-East, spoke yesterday morning and Valentine said: "He was really looking forward to the match and playing against us but I don't think he'll be happy going home with just a point.

"I wasn't really close enough to him to make any challenges which is unfortunate.

"I'd like to have put one in on him!"

When Valentine headed home Mark Convery's cross he became Quakers' sixth different the scorer this season, and only one of the goal-getters - Matt Clarke twice, have been from strikers, but the Welsh under-21 international was simply delighted to get off the mark for the season.

Valentine, who was 22 earlier this month, said: "It was the first time I've scored a header since I came here so it was nice to get one with my head for a change.

"Con did well and put the ball across for me, I didn't have much time to think so just had to concentrate on getting the ball in the net.

"I think a draw was probably a fair result. We started well but came in at half-time 0-0 but then started the second half sloppily and then they got their goal which sparked us into life.

"Their goal gave us a kick up the backside really, but the manager came into the dressing room after the game and told us that we shouldn't need a goal for the other team to gee us up.

"But then we got an equaliser and we're disappointed not to have won 2-1."

Including the Coca Cola League Cup defeat against Barnsley last week, Darlington, who've dropped a place to 11th in the table, have won just one of their four games at the Williamson Motors Stadium this season while Quakers have managed a win, a draw and a defeat away from home.

Valentine admitted the start to the season has been average, saying: "We've just drawn at home after winning at Chester so I think it's been an indifferent start.

"The manager and Mark Proctor have been saying it's important that we become more consistent, that we should aim to win your home games and try to at least draw away.

"But if we win on Saturday against Scunthorpe that'll make up for today and keep us at least in the top half."