A LAST-GASP equaliser by Dave Syers rescued a point for Darlington at Gainsborough Trinity, the midfielder scoring six minutes into added on time.

They trailed 3-1 with 14 minutes to go at the relegation-threatened team, Syers scoring both goals to save Darlington’s blushes against the lowly opposition.

Gainsborough were furious with the amount of added time, Quakers clearly relieved to have salvaged something.

Despite it being a point gained, it is also an opportunity wasted. Three points would’ve lifted Darlington into fifth ahead of Chorley.

That they failed to beat the third-bottom team that had lost seven of their previous eight matches is clearly poor for a side with play-off hopes, with mistakes by debutant goalkeeper Adam Bartlett doing little for Quakers’ top-five ambitions.

He had been selected ahead of the unfortunate Ed Wilczynski, who had kept two clean sheets in as many games and done little wrong since replacing Peter Jameson in January.

Bartlett had a good start to the game, however, climbing above a clutch of bodies 14 yards from his line to catch a free-kick at the beginning of a match that the visitors started positively.

The game was being played in the hosts’ half, Gainsborough barely putting two passes together, and Darlington took the lead after 12 minutes.

Mark Beck got it, beating Gainsborough goalkeeper George Willis to a high ball hoisted in by Chris Hunter, to reach 15 goals for the season.

Hunter kept his place at the centre of defence alongside Terry Galbraith as both performed solidly a week ago in keeping a clean sheet against Brackley, so Kevin Burgess was named among the substitutes.

The goal settled the game down, Darlington showing less attacking intent, though Gainsborough showed a competitive edge and kept plugging away.

An off-balance Jordan Thewlis volleyed into the housing estate behind Bartlett’s goal after a free-kick from Gainsborough’s half.

Thewlis was lively, holding the ball up well, while his team-mates grew into the game and began to cause Quakers problems.

Beck had to make a goal-line clearance from Chris Salt after Gainsborough’s second corner of the game.

Syers was wide when getting on the end of a strong cross-shot by Stephen Thompson, who scored from a similar position in last week’s 1-0 win over Brackley.

That would have made it 2-0, but suddenly the game turned on its head with two Gainsborough goals inside as many minutes.

The first came after a free-kick on the right to the far post. Bartlett came for it but was unable to get a hand to the ball, allowing Matt Wilson to head in.

And then confusion at the back between Galbraith and Bartlett gave Gainsborough a second.

Chib Chilaka flicked the ball on, and Ashley Worsfold nipped in to prod the ball beyond the debutant goalkeeper.

The quickfire double stunned Darlington, who had looked in control in the early stages, but ended the half 2-1 down to a team in miserable form.

A Nathan Cartman volley on the turn was tipped wide by Willis and a Galbraith free-kick went over as Quakers rallied before the half-time whistle.

Darlington may have been stunned to trail 2-1 at half-time, so they were dumbfounded to fall 3-1 behind soon after the restart.

A long throw from the right into the box was headed against the bar and, with Bartlett again found wanting, Chilaka was on hand to score, giving Quakers a mountain to climb.

Gray swiftly made two changes. Harvey Saunders and Josh Gillies came on, replacing Cartman and Thompson with the formation changing to 3-4-3.

Saunders and Beck were up front, Gillies behind them, and time yet for Darlington to salvage something.

Matt Wilson appeared to handle after Gillies played a pass, but the referee played on as Darlington threw men forward and attacked relentlessly.

A David Ferguson ball to the far post agonisingly could not find a team-mate, the left-back getting into the final third the ball after receiving a cross-field pass.

With 20 minutes to go came the final throw of the dice by Gray, Arran Wearmouth sent on for his Darlington debut ten months after signing from Blyth.

He replaced Liam Marrs, Darlington switching to 3-3-4 and soon they pulled one back.

After good work by Gillies, Beck got a header in and Syers picked up the loose ball to head home and give Quakers hope.

Wearmouth was lively, looking to cause problems, and one dribble saw him pull the ball back for Falkingham whose blast was deflected over.

In the 89th minute Falkingham came so close to an equaliser, a side-foot shot going wide, but with gaps left at the back as Quakers attacked Gainsborough then hit the post, McGovern on the turn from 20 yards, with Bartlett getting a hand to it.

The officials signalled six minutes of injury time, much to chagrin of the home fans, and they were furious in the final minute of added on time when Darlington scored a dramatic equaliser.

They piled on the pressure, finally getting their reward when Syers prodded home after a Falkingham cross caused carnage in the penalty area.

Goals: Beck (12, 0-1); Wilson (34, 1-1), Worsfold (35, 2-1), Chilaka (51, 3-1); Syers (76, 3-2), Syers (90, 3-3)

Bookings: Evans (foul)

Referee: Paul Graham

Attendance: 744

Gainsborough Trinity (4-5-1): Willis; Jacklin, Nyoni, Wilson, Salt; Thewlis (McGovern 72), Chippendale, Tempest, Evans, Worsfold (Wiles 81); Chilaka (Jarman 78). Subs (not used): Nicholson (gk), Lacey

Darlington (4-3-3): Bartlett; Marrs (Wearmouth 70), Hunter, Galbraith, Ferguson; Syers, Turnbull, Falkingham; Beck, Cartman (Saunders 55), Thompson (Gillies 55). Subs (not used): Wilczynski (gk), Burgess