THERE was a breathtaking moment of last-ditch defending during the first half of Darlington’s defiant draw on Saturday that epitomised the team’s sheer determination.

Circumstances forcing them to play against the division’s form team, Stourbridge, without a recognised centre-back, Leon Scott was one of three players used out of position in a makeshift defence and he made a stunning block as crucial as any goal.

After goalkeeper Peter Jameson dived to his right to parry Chris Lait’s low shot, Stourbridge striker Karl Hawley was on hand to tap home, yet Scott had anticipated the danger and darted from across the other side of the penalty area just in time to perform a vital interception.

The sterling defensive work from the stand-in captain typified the team’s mentality as they faced adversity head on to secure a 1-1 draw.

Darlington dropped to second, leapfrogged by Blyth Spartans, yet this was a hard-earned point that came with two left-backs at centre-half.

Already without the suspended Alan White and Chris Hunter – the latter returns tomorrow evening against Workington – Darlington were further hamstrung when Kevin Burgess, their last remaining centre-back, sustained an injury in the warm-up.

So Terry Galbraith and Anthony Callaghan, making his full debut, lined up in the centre of defence with midfielder Scott at left-back.

“Ten minutes before the game Kev pulled up with a slight calf strain,” said manager Martin Gray. “You don’t plan for that. You do all your preparation, and then you end up with your captain out as well.

“The lads that stepped into unnatural positions showed real character and put in massive performances. They might’ve played in those positions many years ago when they were kids, but they were playing today against two top forwards.

“Stourbridge are the best team we’ve played this season. They are in really good form and hadn’t conceded an awful lot of goals, so it was always going to be a really tough challenge.

“We nullified them. We didn’t give them too many chances, they didn’t have many one-on-ones. We showed desire, we made big blocks, made tackles and got behind the ball. As a back four we stayed really strong.”

The emphasis had not been on defence during the opening stages when Darlington did the pressing and took an early lead via Stephen Thompson’s fifth goal of the season.

He exchanged passes with Nathan Cartman and broke into the penalty area before firing past Lewis Solly. It was not long before Stourbridge took control, but at least Darlington had a goal to defend.

Gray said: “We started well and were the better team for the first ten minutes. I thought we popped the ball around very well and had one or two half chances.

“There was quite a breeze out there and that made it difficult to get out.”

After Scott’s remarkable block came a steady stream of opportunities with Jameson regularly involved.

He pushed over a drive by marauding right-back Krisitian Green, while captain Stuart Pierpoint headed over after a corner.

Darlington managed to hold their lead until Stourbridge’s two former Football League forwards, Justin Richards and Hawley, combined to equalise.

After Jameson’s goal kick reached halfway, Richards played in his strike-partner whose composed finish gave the former Carlisle forward his tenth goal of the season.

Jameson went on to be man of the match and one smart save saw him save at Richards’ feet when the ex-Port Vale striker had only the keeper to beat.

At the break Gray swapped Scott and Callaghan, the latter reverting to his natural position of left-back for a half in which Darlington, with their midfield defending deeply to protect the defence, rarely ventured forward.

“We changed things to suit as the game went on,” said Gray. “Anthony’s played there before at Sunderland, but we know he’s not a natural centre-half. He did a job and in the second half you could see that his natural position is left-back.”

It was a day when spirit and strength of character were tested, as well as the reflexes of Quakers’ keeper.

Jameson was up to the challenge, saving in quick succession from Lait and then Hawley, but on the whole Darlington stood firm, though they twice almost conceded what would’ve been a heartbreaking injury time goal.

Substitute Ben Billingham saw a curling shot drop just wide, and there was a let-off when an unmarked Hawley headed over.

“When you lose your captain, that puts you under pressure,” said Gray. “The players showed big character. They were big defensively, whole-hearted.

“Leon Scott was outstanding alongside Terry Galbraith. They were two big men who stepped up to the task.”