DARLINGTON boss Steve Watson praised the character of his players after their late show against Peterborough Sports - but admits Quakers need to improve on their midweek display.

Darlington looked set to suffer a Blackwell Meadows defeat until substitute Toby Lees struck in stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw on Tuesday night.

It was a much-needed point for Quakers, who were facing the prospect of successive defeats after their weekend loss at Brackley.

Darlington trailed at half-time but levelled through Scott Barrow just before the hour mark, only to concede again a minute later. But they stuck at it and rescued a point in the dying seconds.

"We needed to be better in a lot of departments but at least we showed the character to keep going," said boss Watson.

"Especially after they'd scored the second goal so quickly after we equalised.

"We didn't move the ball quick enough. We were a bit too open and we need to be quicker. But we persevered.

"It was an off night but if we come out of nights with points then we have to be happy, at least we haven't lost the game."

Barrow was Darlington's best, scoring the first equaliser and creating the second.

Watson said: "We've been winding other up because Scotty was a regular scorer [in the past] but hasn't been hitting the net.

"That was a really good goal."

Watson also praised stoppage time hero Lees, who made his mark from the bench.

"We have to use our squad and we make decisions on the way to play," he said.

"Toby has played virtually every minute of every game so we thought we'd freshen it up.

"What's great about Toby is he doesn't sulk or shake his head. And when he came on, that's the response you want."

Barrow said: "If we didn't concede the second goal I think we'd have gone on to win it. It's little sloppy things that cost us. It was the same at Brackley on Saturday.

"We need to be clever but I can't fault the lads. We never say die and we'll keep going until the final whistle."

The draw left Darlington 14th in National League North, five points above the relegation zone and five shy of the play-off places.

Quakers have successive home games against Hereford and Scunthorpe to come but first turn their attention to the FA Trophy and the visit of Buxton on Saturday (3pm).

Watson said: "We'll get everyone back together Thursday, put smiles on faces and go again in the cup on Saturday."