ONE night in May evokes memories of the greatest comeback football has ever seen, but back in 2000, on a rain-sodden evening at Wembley, a drenched David Hodgson reached his lowest ebb in the game.

While Liverpool's famous European Cup victory in Istanbul last May will go down as the stuff of legends, May 26, 2000, was the night Hodgson cried for Darlington.

As a manager, Hodgson has never achieved promotion, but six years ago he came close, just not close enough.

By Hodgson's own admission, promotion should have been assured without the means of a nerve-jangling Third Division play-off final on the hallowed turf.

But, having occupied an automatic promotion place for three months, Quakers let slip an eight-point lead and had to settle for the play-offs.

Not even a glorious two-legged victory over fierce rivals Hartlepool could lift Hodgson's men as Peterborough striker Andy Clarke broke Quakers' hearts at Wembley.

"That was one of the worst nights of my life," recalled Hodgson. "I was devastated after the game and it took a long time to get over it.

"Darlington have had some down moments in their history, but that would take some beating.

"We should have never been in that position in the first place.

"Firstly, we had our chances to win it in the first half, but, more importantly, we shouldn't have been at Wembley in the first place. It should have been wrapped up and finished long before then.

"Taking all that into consideration made for an horrendous night.

"I remember seeing a lot of disappointed faces afterwards and a lot of tears too, myself included, and I'm not embarrassed to admit it."

Six years on and the sides meet for the first time in the league since that infamous season.

While much has changed since then, the objective come May remains the same - promotion from the Football League's bottom tier.

Sixth-placed Posh hold a five-point advantage over Hodgson's men, who, in 11th, are shy of a top-seven spot by the same points margin.

The visit of Peterborough today is the first of two crucial home games, according to Hodgson.

With promotion-chasing Grimsby arriving at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena in a rearranged fixture on Tuesday night, the Quakers boss insists it's do-or-die time.

He said: "We have to try to win our next two home games.

"Peterborough and Grimsby are above us, so if we can go and get six out of six at home I will put my cap on these kids being in the top seven in May.

"If we come out of these games with nothing then a potential play-off scenario could be gone."

Kasper Schmeichel will make his Quakers debut this afternoon after joining the club on a week-to-week loan basis yesterday.

Hodgson made his move for the Manchester City goalkeeper after David Knight failed to recover from a hip injury in time.

With first-choice stopper Sam Russell a fortnight away from returning, Hodgson said: "It helps enormously that we've been able to bring in Kasper on a week-to-week arrangement.

"We don't have the financial resources to sign players when we feel like it.

"The plan is to keep Kasper until Sam is fit enough to return."

Schmeichel's arrival has cast fresh doubts over Hodgson's faith in young keeper Jack Norton.

The signing of Schmeichel is the latest snub for Norton, who is in his third year as a YTS player.

Last month Hodgson turned to Middlesbrough goalkeeper Knight, at 18 the same age as Norton, following an injury to second choice Bert Bossu.

Despite travelling with the first-team squad to Notts County seven days ago, Norton was not named among the substitutes.

Following an injury to Knight, and with no recognised goalkeeper on the bench, midfielder Phil Stamp played the entire second half in goal as Quakers capitulated to lose 3-2 at Meadow Lane.

"We've had a talk to Jack and he knows what the situation is," said Hodgson.

"He's a young lad and he's not ready to be thrown into the deep end and expected to perform, week-in, week-out.

"We'll bring Jack in when he feel the time is right for him and now is not the time."

After returning from a successful loan spell from York City, defender David McGurk will make his first appearance of the season for Quakers this afternoon.

With Shelton Martis serving a one-match ban, McGurk will partner Matt Clarke at the heart of the defence.

Such was McGurk's impact, after his second impressive spell at KitKat Crescent, the Minstermen were keen to sign the Teessider on a permanent basis.

The 23-year-old's loan spell expired at the beginning of January and, with Joey Hutchinson ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Hodgson blocked a fresh approach from York for McGurk.

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