QUAKERS threw away two precious points at Gigg Lane last Saturday when Bury scored twice in the last three minutes to salvage a draw.

Tommy Taylor's side looked to be heading for a welcome second successive win when left back Ryan Valentine's first league goal after 34 minutes and Ian Clark's 73rd minute penalty put them in control.

But nerves began to fray when a Dave Nugent header gave the home side some hope and the Shakers completed an unlikely comeback when former Bishop Auckland player Micky Nelson equalised in injury time.

Darlington began the match with three central defenders in Craig Liddle, Matt Clarke and recent signing Stuart Whitehead, with Valentine and Simon Betts deployed as wing backs.

The tactics seemed to be working a treat when Quakers survived early pressure to take the lead.

Barry Conlon set up Valentine, who made no mistake with a left-foot shot.

Whitehead went off with a hamstring injury early in the second half and was replaced by Adam Rundle, but Quakers seemed to be coping well with the disruption of their formation when Mark Ford was fouled in the box and Clark put away the spot kick.

The manager later bemoaned his side's inability to kill the game off when they were 2-0 up and will be hoping they can quickly absorb the lessons of a frustrating day.

Quakers have a golden opportunity to move away from the lower reaches of the table when they take on new boys Boston United at Feethams tomorrow.

The visitors are second from bottom, five points behind 19th-placed Darlington, and are yet to win away from home.

However, they are in a slightly false position after being deducted four points before the season began.

Taylor did receive a boost this week when the loan spell of striker Graham Fenton was extended for a further month.

But a groin strain is likely to keep the experienced 28-year-old out of tomorrow's match