THEY huffed they puffed, but Darlington could not blow Notts County off the top of League Two last night.

David Hodgson's men couldn't have come any closer to hitting the summit for the first time in seven years after substitute Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu appeared to have clinched the all-important winner with ten minutes remaining.

However, Quakers were denied their first win over the Football League's oldest club since 1968 when Andy White levelled five minutes after Ndumbu-Nsungu's opener.

While a draw may have been a fair reflection of proceedings, Hodgson will feel disappointed that his side are not sitting atop League Two this morning.

The last time Darlington were top of the table - September 12, 1998 - Robbie Williams was topping the music charts with 'Millennium'.

Williams also enjoyed success with 'Come Undone', and last night Carlos Logan was the main perpetrator in undoing the County defence at every available opportunity.

Indeed, Jason St Juste's decision to quit the club during the summer is becoming an increasingly distant memory for Quakers fans who are more than satisfied with the lookalike who replaced him.

As well as Logan's contribution Hodgson was more than happy with a first-half dominated by Quakers. Only a gilt-edged miss from Akpo Sodje denied Hodgson's men a deserved lead in the opening 45 minutes.

Hodgson was forced to make one change from the side which beat Rochdale with ten men on Bank Holiday Monday. With skipper Matt Clarke suspended following his sending off against Dale, Shelton Martis was handed a recall in his favoured central position, alongside captain for the night, Joey Hutchinson.

It was a solid first-half display against Middlesbrough in pre-season that earned Martis a permanent contract in England and the towering Dutchman was a commanding aerial presence in a confident display from the home side. But it was 19-year-old Logan who was Quakers' most dangerous outlet.

At every available opportunity the ball found its way to Logan on the left, with Neil Wainwright on the opposite flank a virtual spectator.

In the fifth minute Jonjo Dickman found the wrong side of Kevin Pilkington's upright, diverting Wainwright's headed cross narrowly wide.

County soon settled and, after Lewis McMahon was brought down on the edge of the area in the 12th minute, the same player curled just wide of Bert Bossu's post.

With his family watching from the stands, Sodje should have given Quakers a 17th minute lead. Racing on to Logan's eye of a needle pass, Sodje beat County skipper Julien Baudet for pace, but could only fire straight at Pilkington.

And moments later, Logan, who appears to be getting better with every game, showed good skill on the edge of the County area, before pulling his shot just wide.

Hutchinson then came to Quakers' rescue in the 24th minute clearing off the line from McMahon's dangerous deep cross.

Kelvin Wilson then provided the Quakers back-line with another wake-up call, when, unmarked, the defender poked wide at the back post.

At the other end, after good work by Wainwright down the right, Sodje rose well, but could only direct his header over the bar from David Duke's cross.

Quakers were quick to find their shooting boots early in the second-half as Sodje toe-poked over the bar after a strong run from Anthony Peacock.

Sodje then wasted another good opportunity to break the deadlock in the 56th minute, scuffing his shot straight at Pilkington after Peacock did well to win possession in midfield.

And, just as frustration began to set in among this season's biggest gate - 5,273 - Ndumbu-Nsungu was the quickest to react to Wainwright's cross, connecting with a pinpoint header past Pilkington.

However, celebrations were shortlived when White rescued a point with five minutes remaining.

* Former Quakers striker Alun Armstrong has joined Oxford United on trial.

Darlington 1 - 1 Notts County

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