DARLINGTON took the lead twice yet were unable to hold on to victory but left Brackley with their unbeaten away record intact.

They drew 2-2, Quakers’ goals being superb strikes by Stephen Thompson and Josh Gillies, in what was Darlington’s longest trip of the season.

The point leaves Martin Gray’s men in third, level on points with second-top Harrogate Town, while pace setters AFC Flyde remain unbeaten.

Scoring opportunities were few in the early stages, Darlington’s first effort seeing Gary Brown head over the bar after meeting Terry Galbraith’s free-kick from the right.

Moments later Brackley had a free-kick of their own close to Quakers’ penalty area, Glenn Walker’s effort taking a deflection off Jordan Watson and hitting the crossbar.

Due to injury, suspension and Adam Nowakowski and Amar Purewal leaving on loan, Martin Gray’s team selection was relatively straight-forward and it meant new signing Tom Davie.

He was ready to come on midway through the first half however, when Terry Galbraith sustained an injury and required treatment, a substitution which would have required a reshuffle in Darlington’s defence.

But centre-back Galbraith then elected to play on and within seconds had an influence in giving Quakers the lead.

He won possession, Mark Beck laid the ball off and Stephen Thompson lashed home from distance.

Until that point it had been an uneventful afternoon, the game ambling along without incident, until Thompson kicked it into life with a 25-yard blast high into the net for his third goal of the season.

The goal gave Quakers impetus, and they went on to enjoy a spell of attacking after Thompson’s strike, the same player soon having another attempt but this one was dragged well wide.

Brackley’s best attacks were down their left, Glenn Walker causing moments of concern for Darlington’s defence and from one of his crosses Steve Diggin almost equalised at close-range, turning the ball over after meeting a delivery to the near post.

With half-time approaching, however, Darlington were pegged back when they were unable to deal with a Brackley corner.

The inswinging delivery by Glenn Walker was misjudged by Quakers keeper Paul Woolston, and captain Gareth Dean was on hand to concert inside the six-yard box.

And in first-half injury time the hosts almost went ahead, Woolston making a fine reaction save to push over Diggin’s close-range header from another Glenn Walker cross, and then Luke Graham’s header was hacked off the line from another corner.

The 1-1 half-time score was a fair reflection of what had been a largely even contest, and it remained that way after the break before Josh Gillies regained the advantage for Darlington with another free-kick.

For the third time this season he curled the ball over the defensive wall and into the bottom corner, making the most of set-piece after he had been fouled 20 yards out.

He almost added to the goal just after the hour mark, a rising drive flashing wide after picking up Mark Beck’s knock-down on the edge of the penalty area.

At this point Darlington looked good for a third goal, Brackley keeper Laurie Walker saving at close-range from substitute Nathan Cartman after Beck headed into his path following Josh Falkingham’s cross, but the linesman was flagging.

Brackley, in ninth before the game, could not be discounted however, and they went in search of another equaliser, Stefan Moore shooting narrowly off target from 18 yards.

They got the leveller they had been threatening on 73 minutes, finding the net again with a cracking header.

James Armson’s right-wing cross was met by the unchallenged Shane Byrne who stooped low to lift a header over Woolston.

Brackley almost went ahead when the ball ricocheted off Liam Marrs’ head and over the bar after an Armson shot.

Davie came on for a short-lived debut in injury-time, replacing Gillies, as Darlington ended with a point which means they remain unbeaten away from home in the league.

Goals: Thompson (26, 0-1); Dean (43, 1-1); Gillies (59, 1-2); Byrne (73, 2-2)

Bookings: Dean (17, foul)

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 642

Brackley Town (3-4-1-2): L Walker; Dean, Graham (Lowe 68), Gudger; Myles, Byrne, G Walker, A Walker; Armson; Moore (Pitt 73), Diggin (Ndlovu 85). Subs (not used): Slade, Moyo

Darlington (4-4-2): Woolston; Marrs, Brown, Galbraith, Watson; Thompson (Mitchell 84), Falkingham, Turnbull, Gillies; Beck, Hardy (Cartman 62). Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Smith