DURING even games when there’s little to choose between two well-matched teams, a match-winner is needed to step forward and be the difference, to provide a moment of magic.

Such game-changers are crucial yet Darlington are fortunate to have two of them, and both Stephen Thompson and Josh Gillies again proved their value on Saturday at Brackley Town by each scoring a fantastic goal.

Thompson’s trademark long-range smash gave Quakers the lead in the first half, while Gillies’ goal was a free-kick carefully curled over the wall, yet their efforts were not enough to beat Brackley.

The ninth-placed opposition fought back on each occasion, levelling twice to earn a point and the 2-2 draw was a fair result after an entertaining encounter.

“It was two great bits of individual skill and you need that in these sorts of games from that calibre of player,” said Darlington manager Martin Gray, in his first match since signing a five-year contract.

“Thommo saw the space and let one go, it’s a contender for goal of the season. Equally, Josh had a lot of work to do with his free-kick, getting it up and down.

“You’re always very confident at set-pieces with Josh that he’s going to make something happen.

“He’s got quality – if you give him the ball he’ll make things happen.”

Both sides had chances to win, most pertinently Darlington’s Josh Falkingham passing up an opportunity at 2-1 up just before Brackley’s second equaliser, but Quakers were not too downhearted to leave St James’ Park with a point and their unbeaten away record intact.

After the 200-mile trip to Northamptonshire, the furthest Darlington have travelled since 2012, Gray was pleased with the efforts of his team.

They remain third but are now level on points with second-top Harrogate Town, a club Quakers travel to later this month.

“It’s important that you come away with something in your away games, even if it’s just a point, and we’ve been on the road since 9am,” said Gray.

“Brackley are a good team with some quality players. We had reports on them saying how good they are, so a point is good even though we’re disappointed not to win because we created enough chances.

“I’d say it’s two points dropped because that was our best away performance this season and it was our longest trip of the season.

“The team was outstanding as a whole, they all made a contribution. The keeper made a big save near the end, Nathan Cartman came on and held the ball up, over the 90 minutes everyone played their part.”

The opening stages were less satisfactory, however, a moribund first 25 minutes seeing very little of note occur.

Gray later explained Darlington needed to ‘shake the travelling out of our legs’, and Thompson certainly did that with his 25-yard strike kicking the contest into life.

After Terry Galbraith stepped out of the centre of defence to win the ball, Thompson picked up possession before unleashing a shot which gave keeper Laurie Walker no chance.

“I’ve seen him do that loads of times in training, friendlies and games. I’m bored of it now,” joked Gary Brown. “I’ve played with Thommo for seven years now, and that’s just another one of his goals.”

The goal gave Darlington impetus, they briefly looked good for a second goal, but Brackley fought back just before half-time when Quakers failed to defend a corner.

The inswinging delivery by Brackley’s star man Glenn Walker found captain Gareth Dean inside the six-yard box, though he may have used a hand to guide the ball home.

Gray said: “It was handball, I spoke to their lad about it as I walked across the pitch afterwards, but it’s difficult for the referee to see in a melee.

“Someone should’ve dealt with the cross, you can’t always look to the referee to get you out of them situations.”

There was no foul play about Gillies’ goal, however, his fourth of the season and third directly from a free-kick. He’d been fouled 20 yards out before getting back to his feet and dispatching the ball into the corner of the net to put Darlington 2-1 up after an hour.

Quakers were then in the ascendancy and had opportunities for 3-1, a Gillies drive going wide and, most pertinently, Falkingham was in on goal but was blocked when he could’ve passed to the better positioned Gillies.

Having lost only twice previously this season Brackley were game opponents and were soon on the front foot, getting the equaliser their endeavour merited Shane Byrne played a pass out wide and his run into the penalty area was not tracked by Falkingham, leaving the Brackley midfielder unmarked when he got on the end of James Armson’s low cross to stoop and lift a header over keeper Paul Woolston.

“The goals we conceded were soft, and our goals came from good individual play,” reflected Gray.

“You’re not going to get everything right over 90 minutes, but the performance was good. Brackley will definitely be challenging at the end of the season, so this is a good away point.”