THERE was certainly no shortage of action at the Reynolds Arena last Saturday, but that was little consolation to Quakers fans as they watched their side lose two players to red cards and throw away a two-goal lead.

The dismissals of Ryan Valentine and Barry Conlon were both followed almost immediately by goals for visitors Scunthorpe United and were instrumental in Darlington failing to complete their first win in two months.

They also brought the club's tally of red cards to eight in 20 league games, a record which only adds to the many problems they are already struggling to overcome.

Valentine and Conlon will now be suspended for three matches at a time when manager David Hodgson's resources are already stretched to breaking point.

Goals from Conlon six minutes before half-time and Neil Wainwright just before the hour mark were the first of Hodgson's latest reign and seemed to have set up his first victory since his return to the Quakers hot seat.

Conlon finished coolly after a through ball from Ashley Nicholls, who was also involved in Darlington's second. His cross was only half-cleared to Wainwright, who smashed the ball home from 18 yards.

The home side should have been in control, but Valentine was the first to show they weren't when he reacted to a foul by Andy Butler. The Scunthorpe man went down theatrically as Valentine confronted him and the referee produced the red card. The Iron pulled a goal back just three minutes later when Michael Price saved Steve Torpey's shot, only for the ball to rebound into the net off Craig Liddle.

Conlon then handled in the area ten minutes from time and made things worse by squaring up to Butler, who again took the opportunity to hit the deck.

With the home side down to nine men, Peter Beagrie put away the penalty to leave Hodgson's men hanging on for a point.

The result left them still in the bottom two ahead of tomorrow's rearranged home game against York City.