Although Akpo Sodje left Chester City's pitch with the match ball in hand, the shine was somewhat taken off his day by Darlington's dramatic late collapse.

Sodje's 81st minute header handed Darlington a seemingly unassailable 4-2 lead and gave the 25-year-old his hat-trick, justifying David Hodgson's decision to hand him his chance in place of Clyde Wijnhard.

But Chester's late fightback meant Sodje found himself in the unusual position of being unable to celebrate his treble with a victory that would have put Quakers equal second with today's opponents Rochdale.

However, the affable former Huddersfield man was satisfied all the same - if only because his goals went someway towards compensating for a howler against Leyton Orient two weeks ago that would have earned a point.

"I am happy I scored at all but it was my first hat-trick which makes it even better," said Sodje, whose first and third goals were headers from Carlos Logan crosses, with his second a powerful 20-yard drive.

"I have come close in the reserves with two but never a hat-trick so I'm really pleased.

"I would have loved to have come off the pitch having scored a hat-trick and with the three points so I am disappointed, we lost the chance of going up near the top.

"I am also happy I scored because the other day, against Leyton Orient, I missed a couple of chances to give us a point."

Alun Armstrong scored Darlington's last hat-trick, at home to Southend last season, while the last Quaker to score three away was Marco Gabbiadini in March 1999 at Brighton.

The difference was both those players were regulars while Sodje was starting his first game this season. He deserved his chance having proved a menace for opposing defences when coming off the bench and, after finally being given the nod, Wijnhard could only watch from the dug-out as his understudy took his opportunity.

"I have been waiting for my chance to play from the start," said Sodje, who has now scored five in 13 Darlington appearances. "The manager told me to do what I normally do and I am happy with my goals.

"One of my strengths is holding on to the ball and bringing people into play and that was the main thing the manager told me to do and I think I did that.

"Clyde is a strong lad but at the moment I don't know what's wrong but he will get back to the way he was last season.

"Hopefully I will now stay in the team. If I was dropped on Monday it would not be a problem because we are a team, I would keep my head up and keep on trying."

* Bert Bossu was exactly 14 days old when Darlington last shared eight goals. Their previous 4-4 draw came on October 28, 1980 at home to Rochdale. Scorers for Quakers that day were Dave McLean (two pens), David Speedie and Alan Walsh.

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