Darlington threw away a golden opportunity to move well away from the Division Three relegation zone when they turned in a dreadful defensive display at home to Cambridge United last Saturday.

Their recent revival had made Quakers hot favourites to pick up three more points against the struggling visitors and everything seemed to be going to plan when Mark Convery put the home side ahead after 26 minutes.

But Cambridge equalised just four minutes later through Jermaine Easter, who is on loan from Hartlepool United, and the first of two bad mistakes from Quakers keeper Michael Price gifted them the lead just before half-time.

The young stopper failed to hold a long-range free kick from Luke Guttridge and Danny Webb was on hand to take advantage.

Easter made it 3-1 midway through the second half and Cambridge appeared to have the points in the bag when Price carried a Guttridge corner over the line nine minutes from time.

But they suffered a nervous last few minutes after goals from substitute Clark Keltie and Matt Clarke gave Darlington hope of salvaging an unlikely point from the wreckage of a poor performance.

Manager David Hodgson is likely to make changes for tomorrow's daunting trip to leaders Doncaster Rovers, with defender Joey Hutchinson and striker Neil Teggart pushing for a recall.