IN the weird, wonderful and, more often than not, downright ridiculous world of Darlington, David Hodgson has come to expect that anything can and, inevitably will, happen.

In the month that Hodgson celebrates ten years since first walking through the Feethams door as a managerial double act with Jim Platt, he has seen just about everything. Enough to write a book in fact.

But not even he could have predicted what was to unfold at Chester on Saturday. Or could he?

Hodgson has learned there are few things assured in football, especially where his beloved Darlington are concerned.

While both sets of fans - a paltry 2,469 of them in total - left the soul-less sardine tin that is now the Saunders Honda Stadium in deep shock, Hodgson was less bewildered by what he had just witnessed.

Disappointment, frustration and anger are all in a day's work for him and Hodgson reluctantly accepted that Jimmy Greaves was right. Football is a funny old game. Not that he had anything to smile about though.

"I'm past the stage of screaming and bawling," said Hodgson. "It was one of those crazy games that football sometimes throws up and Darlington happened to play a part in it.

"We knew, even when we were 4-2 up, that the game wasn't won and we knew how important it was that we remained focussed and kept hold of the ball - which we did up until the last minute."

For 89 minutes winger Carlos Logan was at his irrepressible best. But, with one momentary late lapse, the 19-year-old's inexperience effectively proved costly.

Quakers were leading 4-2 when a corner presented the visitors with an ideal opportunity to run down the clock.

But, instead of taking the ball back towards the flag after a return pass from substitute Nathan Jameson, to kill a few more seconds, Logan brought the ball out before being dispossessed.

Within a matter of seconds the ball was at the other end and in the back of the Quakers net as Chester were given a glimmer of hope through Gregg Blundell.

Hodgson fumed: "The moment we lost the ball in the corner I said to everyone in the dugout: 'this is going to end up in the back of the net.'

"I thought at 4-2 there might have been enough people out there to get hold of the ball and keep it, but we didn't do that.

"I thought Carlos was tremendous apart from that ridiculous move in the corner."

Moments later Chester were level through Marcus Richardson.

With Chester 2-0 down at half-time, the former Hartlepool striker - who scored against Quakers for Lincoln last season - was one of three Chester substitutes introduced after the interval to form a three-pronged attack alongside £100,000 record signing Blundell and Michael Branch.

And, it took Richardson just two minutes to make an instant impression with his first goal for the club he joined in the summer.

"I didn't feel our defenders dealt with them when they put three strikers up front," admitted Hodgson.

Somewhat buried beneath Saturday's souring capitulation was a Akpo Sodje hat-trick. The 24-year-old took all three goals with deadly execution.

Watching from the bench, the dropped Clyde Wijnhard was left to concede today's Bank Holiday clash with Rochdale would again begin on the sidelines.

If Wijnhard is to force his way back into Hodgson's plans, the Dutchman may want to take a leaf out of Sodje's book of work ethics.

In dropping Wijnhard, Hodgson paved the way for Sodje to make his mark in competitive action - a reward for his hard work on the training ground.

And, while Sodje looks forward to an extended run, Wijnhard must now demonstrate a similar attitude to his successor if he is to reclaim his place.

Striker Simon Johnson eased the pressure on his young shoulders with Quakers' sixth minute opener - his first goal for the club coming from the penalty spot after Jonjo Dickman was fouled by Phil Bolland.

In open play Chester rarely threatened, but in dead ball situations, set-piece specialist Ben Davies was a dangerous outlet.

Davies, who scored a free-kick in the 5-1 Carling Cup defeat at Wolves four days earlier, was a constant menace.

His Beckham-esque delivery into the Quakers box almost squirmed under Bert Bossu's lanky legs in the 32nd minute.

But, anything Davies could do, Logan could do better. And, with 34 minutes on the clock, Sodje rose highest in the Chester box to direct his header past Chris Mackenzie from Logan's teasing left-footed set-piece from the right.

With little over a minute of the second half played Richardson reduced the arrears, poking the ball into an empty net after Bossu saved from Blundell.

Sodje then restored Quakers' two-goal cushion with his second, driving low past Mackenzie from the edge of the area.

Rather than knock the stuffing out of the home side, Chester continued to look a much-improved unit.

Richardson in particular looked eager to impress against his former North-East rivals.

But it was Blundell who gave Chester more renewed hope when he made it 3-2 in the 55th minute, sweeping the ball past Bossu at the far post.

Sodje looked to have put the game beyond Chester with nine minutes remaining, completing the hat-trick with a near post header from Logan's cross.

Blundell's second appeared to be little more than a late consolation with a minute of normal time remaining.

However, Richardson had other ideas.

With the game deep in injury time Blundell rounded the onrushing Bossu, before crossing for Richardson, who was left with the simple task of heading into an empty net.

"On the plus side we have a point away from home," said Hodgson.

"It could have been three, but we have one, which we still have to be happy with."

Result: Chester City 4 Darlington 4.

Read more about the Quakers here.