DARLINGTON completed a satisfactory Bank Holiday weekend as Ryan Valentine earned his side a share of the spoils in yesterday's 1-1 draw with Cambridge United.

Two days after their 3-0 win at Chester City, Quakers were unlucky not to take maximum points after Valentine's equaliser 14 minutes from time cancelled out Dan Chillingworth's 58th minute opener.

Cambridge were always going to provide Quakers with a sterner test than the stroll in the park they enjoyed at the Deva Stadium.

But in the windswept conditions Quakers were more than a match for their League Two counterparts.

And providing manager David Hodgson can finally end his well-documented search for a striker in the coming weeks, Quakers fans have every reason to be optimistic.

"I think we lost two points initially and gained one in the end," said Hodgson.

"I thought Cambridge were very quick and lively and at half-time I felt we could go out, get a hold of the game and win it.

"Unfortunately, one or two players went to sleep and they went and scored.

"But we always we knew we were going to create chances and I thought Ryan took his goal really well.

"We know we don't have any natural goalscorers to get on the end of crosses but that is something I am working on at the moment."

Hodgson also revealed he is talks with an unnamed Slovenian international striker, while former Aberdeen striker Hicham Zerouali is due to start training with the club this week.

However, the Quakers boss has all but ruled out a move for Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham after being told the 19-year-old will not be available until October at the earliest.

Quakers recorded the games first effort on goal after just 50 seconds when Craig Russell looped a header straight at Us keeper John Ruddy.

Fans were treated to an unexpected water show after five minutes when the pitch sprinkler system was triggered near the corner flag, before groundsman Andrew Thompson raced to the rescue.

Former Hartlepool United striker Jermaine Easter opened his account for Cambridge in the same fixture last season, scoring twice in a 4-3 win. And only the upright denied the pacy forward from putting his side one up with a quarter-of-an-hour played yesterday.

After beating the offside trap, Easter homed in on the Quakers goal, poking the ball against the post and dangerously along the goal line, before skipper Craig Liddle hacked clear.

Easter then fired over in the 23rd minute after Sam Russell failed to collect a cross.

And after an error by Matt Clarke, Justin Walker flashed wide of the Quakers goal.

At the other end midfielder Brian Close volleyed into the bottom corner for Ruddy to smother, before Craig Russell curled an effort just over the cross-bar with half an hour played.

Quakers were temporarily reduced to 10 men when Matt Clarke suffered a blow to the head after an accidental clash with Cambridge defender Adam Turner.

Bandaged up, Clarke returned to the fray five minutes later to see Ruddy save superbly from a Joey Hutchinson header.

In the 43rd minute Us captain Andy Duncan did enough to distract Craig Russell when Ryan Valentine's cross only needed a touch from inside the six yard area.

Easter continued to cause Quakers problems into the second half and he should have done better when he dragged wide of Sam Russell's goal.

After a subdued first half, former Quakers midfielder Ashley Nicholls looked keen to get involved after the interval. And after showing good skill to beat to players in the centre of the park, Nicholls released Easter, who fired wide.

Another Quakers old boy, Dan Chillingworth, should have done better in the 50th minute when he fired over from close range from Abdou El Kholti's cut back.

However, Chillingworth made amends eight minutes later, to put the visitors one up. There appeared to be little danger when the forward - who spent a month on loan with Quakers in 2001 - latched on to a Nicholls pass. And after advancing towards the Quakers box unchallenged, Chillingworth caught keeper Sam Russell by surprise, letting fly with a drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Mark Convery replaced Craig Russell in the 65th minute, allowing Ian Clark to move into attack alongside Clarke.

And it was Clark who stung the gloves of Ruddy moments later with a venomous effort from 25 yards out.

Quakers continued to apply pressure on the Cambridge goal in search of an equaliser as the visitors clung on for maximum points.

And those hopes were dashed when Valentine drew Quakers level in the 76th minute. After a sustained spell of pressure Convery crossed from the right for the full-back, who headed home at the back post.

Quakers continued to dominate in search of a winner and in injury time Clark was unlucky not to earn a penalty when went down in the box under a challenge from Stevland Angus.

Goals: Chillingworth 0-1 (58min), Valentine 1-1 (76min)

Bookings: Angus (foul 87min)

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport) 7

Attendance: 3,350

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Russell 6, Kendrick 5, Hutchinson 7, Liddle 7, VALENTINE 7, Clark 5, Thomas 6, Close 5 (Keltie 69min 6), Wainwright 5, Clarke 7, Russell 7 (Convery 65min 6) Subs (not used): Fleming, Hughes, Maddison

CAMBRIDGE UNITED (3-5-2): Ruddy 7, Duncan 6 (Gleeson 45min 5), Tann 7, Latte-Yedo 6 (Hutton 51min 5), El Kholti 5, Quinton 6, Nicholls 5, WALKER 7 (Webb 82min), Angus 5, Easter 7, Chillingworth 5 Subs (not used): Marshall, Beech, Webb

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Valentine - Rescued a valuable point for Quakers