Darlington fans may have made yesterday's trip across the A66 to Carlisle with some trepidation, but they will have left Brunton Park wondering what all the fuss was about.

Quakers earned only a point but it could easily have been three in a thoroughly entertaining encounter, which belied its billing as the clash between the worst two teams in the Football League.

Quakers showed plenty of fighting spirit and the kind of character which will play a key role in their battle against relegation.

Not many teams have visited Carlisle as underdogs this season, but crisis-hit Quakers arrived after three defeats in a row to face a Cumbrian side who had won their last two.

Despite a second month without pay, Quakers failed to let the club's off-the-field problems get to them with a determined display.

Manager David Hodgson said: "I think what was important was that we brought that little run to an end. We went 1-0 down, which we said we didn't really want to do because teams know at the minute we're not scoring.

"When they got that goal we thought it would be one of those games but we kept at it and we got our just rewards.

"It was a great game to watch but I think we had enough chances in the second-half to win.

"The statistics showed that and I know our lads are too good to be where they are in the league.

"We should have won our last two games so I'm happy that we've managed to get back into this game.

"We knew they'd won their last two but we knew they hadn't played particularly well."

After a 15-minute delay due to crowd congestion, there was an early scare for Quakers when the sliding Will McDonagh came within inches of connecting with Matthew Fryatt's shot across the face of goal.

After wins over Torquay and Bury, Carlisle have given their fans some hope of avoiding relegation. With three points yesterday the gap from bottom to second bottom would have been just six points.

Former Bury player-boss Andy Preece has played a major role in Carlisle's mini-revival and it was following good work down the right that the home side took a tenth-minute lead.

Despite the presence of defender Matt Clarke, Preece moved past the former Halifax man with ease before crossing for Brendan McGill, who glanced his header past keeper Michael Price.

Boosted by the return of top scorer Barry Conlon, Quakers looked for a quick reply and they almost got it when the Irishman headed over Chris Hughes' cross.

However, it was the home side who looked the more threatening and only an unusual block by Price denied Carlisle a second goal.

Player-manager Paul Simpson swung over a free-kick to the back post, which was met by Preece only for Price to turn the ball wide with the back of his head.

Carlisle were presented with another good chance to extend their lead when Clarke conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box but Preece's low effort through the wall was well held by Price.

As the game continued to flow from end to end, an inviting cross from Craig James was well intercepted by McDonagh with Lee Matthews lurking, before Price produced a great save to deny Fryatt at the other end.

In his previous three games on loan from Bristol City, Matthews had failed to score and his place had looked under threat with Conlon's return.

But as Hodgson opted for a three-man attack, the Teessider kept his place and he repaid the boss's faith in the best possible way with a 39th minute equaliser.

A long ball from Clarke was flicked on by one-time Carlisle target Conlon to Matthews, who cut inside before sending the ball past the static keeper Matt Glennon.

Quakers were unlucky not to go in at half-time with the lead, as Kevin Gray deflected James' goal-bound effort wide from skipper Neil Maddison's threaded though-ball.

Quakers made a confident start to the second half and after a strong run by Neil Wainwright, Ashley Nicholls collected the ball before firing straight at Glennon.

The Cumbrians' keeper then saved with his feet to deny Conlon from just inside the area as Quakers began take a hold of the game.

Despite their frustrations, the home fans were almost celebrating their second goal of the afternoon when substitute Peter Murphy rattled the bar with a curling effort from the right.

And Price had to be alert to hold on to Simpson's swerving 35-yard effort in the 64th minute.

Simpson substituted himself in the 68th minute, making way for former Hartlepool striker Kevin Henderson in an attack-minded switch.

However, it was Quakers who should have taken the lead a minute later when Matthews, unmarked on the edge of the six-yard area, sliced Wainwright's cross wide.

After a scramble in the box, Conlon came within inches of marking his return with a goal when he fired agonisingly wide of the upright.