Josh Gowling’s first game as Darlington manager ended in a draw and so nearly a victory; a fine save by the Gloucester City goalkeeper denied Will Hatfield a goal seconds before the final whistle.

But a draw was a fair result between the division’s two bottom sides, on an afternoon when neither of the lowly sides were particularly impressive.

It was 24th versus 23rd and the standard was befitting its bottom of the table status, with goalmouth incident sparse for lengthy periods.

Gowling's first selection saw Jacob Hazel restored to the starting XI along with Finlay Barnes, with Jordan Windass and Kaine Felix making way. Felix was not on the bench.

Quakers briefly thought they had been awarded a penalty when referee William Davis blew the whistle after goalkeeper Zach Jeacock brought down Hazel, but a flag was raised for offside.

Cameron Salkeld, who kept his place in the starting XI after an impressive outing in the FA Cup last week, attacked down Gloucester’s right, taking the ball past a couple of defenders and firing a low ball across that goal that Hazel was unable to react quick enough to.

At the other end, Jassem Sukar, playing at left-back, flung himself at the ball to block Elliott Durrell’s first-time effort after meeting Kornell McDonald’s corner.

While Gowling was in the Darlington dugout for the first time, Gloucester also had a new boss in Mike Cook, and his side went 1-0 ahead on 34 minutes with a failing familiar to Quakers fans.

McDonald charged through space in Darlington's midfield, and with striker Brandon Smalley making a well-timed run in the midle of the home defence, he latched onto his team-mates’ pass and beat Tommy Taylor with a low shot.

Tom Platt’s dipping drive from distance took a deflection to earn Quakers a corner, collected easily by Jeacock, and the goalkeeper also held a Platt header after Quakers’ captain met a Finlay Barnes free-kick in the last action before the half-time whistle.

Hazel wasted a glorious opportunity soon after the restart, with his weaker right foot weakly jabbing the ball towards Jeacock after a Kallum Griffiths delivery.

It would have been 2-0 ahead had Taylor not made a smart save to deny Smalley, the Gloucester striker gifted a chance due to the below-par Adriano Moke giving the ball away cheaply.

The impressive Jeacock saved from Hazel, the striker shooting on the turn after a Salkeld pass as Quakers slowly turned up the intensity.

Their endeavour was rewarded with a penalty, conceded when Max Ram felled Will Hatfield, who converted the spot-kick to make 1-1 on 73 minutes.

There was to be no winner, however, Jeacock securing his side a point in the final seconds of added time, flinging himself to his left to push away Hatfield’s drive.

After ten league games played, Gowling’s tenure begins with Darlington rooted to the bottom with seven points.

Next up is Scarborough at home next Saturday in the FA Cup, 1pm kick-off.

Darlington: Taylor; Griffiths, Lees, Lawlor, Sukar; Platt, Moke (Liddle 67); Hatfield, Barnes (Nelson 62), Salkeld (Windas 77); Hazel. Subs not used: Hedley, Rivers

Gloucester City: Jeacock; McDonald, Ram, Richards-Everton, Emmett; McGrory (Duffus 90); Hanks, Pinchard, Parker; Smalley, Durrell (Bennett 65). Subs not used: Sloane, Mustoe, Armstrong