A piece of magic by super sub Richard Hodgson gave Quakers a valuable point in their relegation battle at St James's Park on Tuesday night.

Hodgson had only been on the field for two minutes when he scored a superb equaliser for his fifth goal of the season. But it took an opening goal by Exeter to spark what had previously been a poor game into life.

After passing two inspections in mid-afternoon the pitch was in very good condition.

Quakers nearly went a goal behind after six minutes when Andy Roscoe crossed from the left for Steve Flack unmarked six yards out to head into the grateful hands of Darlington keeper Peter Keen.

But the on-loan keeper then gave his team mates a scare by completely mis-kicking a back pass on his six-yard line, but fortunately there was no Exeter forward nearby to take advantage.

Quakers responded with a good run into the box by Steve Harper when he beat two men in a run down the left and set up Glenn Naylor but the midfielder's shot was charged down by a defender.

However, Exeter grabbed control and Keen was forced into a diving save down to his left by Carl Buckle from 25 yards. Exeter then forced three corners without threatening then Keen went full length to push away a curling free kick from the right by Roscoe.

French defender Alex Jeannin picked up his first yellow card in English football when he was booked for a harmless looking foul on Christian Roberts.

However, as half-time approached Quakers denied the home side any goalscoring opportunities although they did not really threaten Arjan Van Heusden's goal until just before half-time when John Williams almost got a touch on to an inswinging free kick from Harper.

Manager Gary Bennett sent on Adam Reed for the injured Brightwell at half-time, but Quakers remained reasonably solid. There was some danger when Kwame Ampadu dribbled past two defenders, but Jeannin covered well at the back.

After 53 minutes Flack headed an inswinging corner from Buckle well wide.

Quakers came more out of their shell and nearly grabbed the lead after 55 minutes when Harper had a shot blocked from a Naylor corner.

Quakers had a scare at the other end when Keen dropped a high ball from Buckle, but managed to recover before Flack could pounce.

However, they fell behind after 61 minutes when Roscoe crossed low from the left for Flack to prod passed Keen at the near post.

But within two minutes Quakers were level. Hodgson, who had come on for Marcelle immediately after Exeter's goal, picked up a pass from Mark Ford n the left, squeezed between two defenders, raced into the area and beat Van Heusden with a low, left-foot shot.

And with confidence boosted Quakers nearly went into the lead, but Harper's low shot from the edge of the box scraped the outside of the post.

Exeter replied when Roberts beat two men to run clear into the box, but Keen blocked at his feet.

Quakers nearly snatched the winner with five minutes left when Hodgson, who had certainly injected some pace since his introduction, raced down the right and crossed into the middle, but substitute Kirk Jackson could not make a clean contact with the ball.

And there was a late scare for Quakers when a header from Flack from Roscoe free kick scraped the top of the bar.

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