DARLINGTON skipper Craig Liddle admitted that the players were "gutted" after a dramatic late collapse at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

"The players were devastated at throwing away a 2-0 lead," he said.

"For 95 per cent of the game, I thought we defended quite well. With ten minutes left, I couldn't see them scoring. I thought the centre backs tactic worked, and even when Stuart went off, we weren't in much trouble.

"We were lacking a little bit of common sense in the closing stages. We didn't put the ball into corners or look for free kicks in Bury's half of the field."

Liddle was delighted for Ryan Valentine, who scored his first ever league goal in the first half, and straight after the game dashed off on Wales Under 21 duty.

"I thought he scored a really good goal.

"It was well set up by Barry, and Ryan kept his composure and stuck the ball away well."

l Defender Stuart Whitehead could miss this Saturday's home game with Boston United.

Whitehead pulled up after 58 minutes and limped off to be replaced by Adam Rundle. Manager Tommy Taylor said: "The injury isn't too bad. He's tweaked a hamstring, and we're hoping he'll be back soon."

* Quakers had to play in a normal 1 to 11 strip at Gigg Lane. With Bury playing in a predominantly white shirt, Quakers' first choice of white clashed, and referee Fraser Stretton ruled that their second choice of silver would also. Quakers therefore played in a red strip, which caused confusion after the teams were announced with the squad numbers.

* Quakers have recalled midfielder Paul Campbell from his loan spell at Whitby.

Campbell hasn't figured in the first team this season, but Quakers asked the UniBond League side not to use him in the FA Cup. Campbell wasn't given a place on the bench at Gigg Lane.