Darlington 1 Rochdale 1

A YEAR ago this Saturday Darlington reached the nadir of last season with a 5-0 defeat at home to Rochdale that sent Quakers tumbling into the bottom half of the table.

Twelve months on, they are among the promotion contenders, but this morning they will be feeling rock-bottom as yet another late goal denied them victory.

For the fourth time this season Quakers missed out on all the points after conceding when victory was within their grasp.

Last night it was an 88th minute strike from Rory Prendergast that sent the majority of the fans home unhappy.

Tommy Wright had opened the scoring on the hour in front of the lowest crowd of the season, but Dale deserved a share of the points after another stuttering Quakers performance.

Darlington had started disappointingly during their draw with Peterborough on Saturday but, with Dave Penney having handed Clark Keltie and Neil Wainwright their first starts of the season, were a little quicker out of the blocks last night.

Rob Purdie almost got them off to a stunning start with a 35-yard strike in the first minute that flew just over the crossbar, then Wright was only inches away from connecting with Julian Joachim's cross-shot.

That Rochdale debacle last season saw Wainwright make his first start of the season but his appearance 12 months ago lasted just 15 minutes as tactical change meant he was withdrawn following Craig James early dismissal.

However, his fortunes were almost a complete contrast last night as this time after 15 minutes he provided the first shot on target, cutting in from the left and firing a low shot that keeper James Spencer dealt with comfortably.

Wainwright started on the left where he replaced Purdie who had switched to right-back with Ian Miller on the bench alongside new loan goalkeeper Corrin Brooks-Meade who joined yesterday from Fulham.

And for a brief moment midway though the first half Brooks-Meade may have thought he was going to be making his debut as the referee blew for a foul when Dale striker Adam Le Fondre collapsed to the floor in the penalty area under the challenge of Quakers keeper Andy Oakes.

Having latched on to a Ben Muirhead through-ball, Le Fondre knocked the ball past the onrushing Oakes and seemed sure to score but then hit the deck.

However, Darlington breathed a huge sigh of relief as referee Carl Boyeson instead booked the striker for diving.

Dale ended the first half stronger, but Darlington scored the first goal of the night just before the hour mark and for the fifth time this season it came from Wright and again Joachim was the provider.

The right-winger has created more than his fair share of goals this season and on 59 minutes his delivery from close to the touchline found Wright in the six-yard box to head powerfully into the net.

But just when it seemed Darlington were heading back to the top of League Two, Prendergast raced away on the left and beat Oakes with a powerful low effort.

Darlingtons reserves play Hartlepool tonight at Norton (7pm).