DARLINGTON were denied at the death and were held 1-1 by leaders AFC Fylde in what could be their final game at Heritage Park.

Dave Syers’ header two minutes from time appeared to have given Quakers the points against a team with only one defeat to their name this season.

But an assistant referee’s flag ruled out the goal, leaving Darlington feeling disappointed not to have won having dominated the second half in the top-of-the-table clash.

Quakers, tenants at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park since 2012, were playing at the venue for what could be the final time if they receive approval next week to move back to Darlington at Blackwell Meadows, and an almost capacity crowd of 2,001 were in attendance.

Darlington rose to the occasion, starting as brightly as Fylde’s luminous orange kit, and forcing three early chances with Stephen Thompson and Kevin Burgess both shooting over and Josh Gillies heading at keeper Rhys Taylor.

The hosts were almost handed the lead when a sloppy back-pass by defender Steve Williams evaded Taylor and, fortunately for Fylde, rolled just wide of the post and from one of two corner that followed Dave Syers headed over from inside the six-yard box.

Syers was making his first start as Martin Gray opted for a 4-3-3 formation to nullify Fylde, and largely the tactics worked.

By the midway point of the first half Fylde dangerman Danny Rowe had been a virtual spectator, his first shot involvement being on 24 minutes with a hopeful punt from distance which ended up in the car park.

But Quakers did not heed the warning and he soon found the target.

He turned sharply inside the penalty area and fired hard and low into the far corner beyond Peter Jameson to record Fylde’s 50th league goal of the season, 24 of them by Rowe.

Just before the end of a largely even first half, Quakers’ Liam Marrs cleared off the line after a scramble following Fylde’s first corner of the game, and then Darlington levelled with a simple goal.

Jameson’s punt was flicked on by Mark Beck and Gillies kept his composure to tuck home.

Darlington had all of the possession and chances after the break, pinning Fylde back, with Syers on the end of most of their scoring opportunities.

He had missed two chances before half-time, and eight minutes after the restart he somehow headed over from underneath the crossbar when he got on the end of a Galbraith free-kick.

He also headed over after meeting a Galbraith corner, his fourth chance of the game and all of them off target.

Darlington were building a head of steam, the Tin Shed in good voice and getting behind their team, and a Quakers goal beckoned.

Nathan Cartman came on as a sub and he had a shot on the turn blocked by Taylor after Darlington’s ninth corner of the afternoon.

After a Galbraith free-kick in the 88th minute, Syers was finally celebrating after turning the ball home, but an assistant referee raised his flag to cut short Darlington’s delight.

Darlington (4-4-3): Jameson; Marrs, Burgess, Galbraith, Watson (Scott 68); Turnbull, Falkingham, Syers; Thompson (Cartman 84), Beck, Gillies. Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Hunter, Hardy

AFC Flyde (4-3-3): Taylor; Wilson, Langley, Williams, Kennedy; Bond, Hardy (Blinkhorn 73), Finley; Daniels (Dixon 57), Rowe, Bradley. Subs (not used): Collins, Baker, Hughes