DARLINGTON went into a cup tie that appeared to be very winnable on paper, yet did not make the most of the opportunity and were unable to progress to the next round.

It’s a scenario familiar to their frustrated fans, one which repeated itself yesterday when they were unable to overcome Marine, a team 19th in the division below.

Lancaster City, who beat Quakers in the FA Cup in September, are two divsions beneath.

The Merseysiders yesterday headed north for an FA Trophy tie on the back of only one win in nine league fixtures, yet secured a 2-2 draw, which means the teams meet again tomorrow evening.

Darlington wasted a hatful of chances before Marine scored and fought back from 2-0 down, but there was little cheer for the hosts.

Instead, despondency was the prevailing mood, in deep contrast to the broad grins on the Marine players’ faces as they headed for the tunnel while being barracked by frustrated fans about their timewasting.

Marine had tried every trick in the book to kill the game, but their delaying tactics were not the reason Darlington drew and Quakers boss Martin Gray had no qualms with the visitors’ approach.

He was in downbeat mood as he reflected on the tie, able to find only two plusses.

“The positives are that Chris Hunter came through 90 minutes and we’re still in the Trophy, that’s it,” said Gray, who had selected a strong side, though he was without Kevin Burgess due to illness.

“There’s a lot of disappointment in the dressing room because the performance wasn’t good enough overall.

“Certain play wasn’t good enough from certain individuals. We’ve spoken about that in detail and I expect a massive reaction on Tuesday.”

The one consolation is that Saturday’s opponents, Salford, also face a replay having drawn with Harrogate Town on Saturday, but Quakers would be already looking forward to a place in the first round had they taken a couple of the numerous scoring opportunities forged early on.

While the performance was flat, lacking the thrill of the previous home game with Fylde, the action predominately took place in Marine’s half, goalkeeper Calvin Hare pulling off the first of two top saves when he kept out Mark Beck’s close-range header after Josh Gillies’ left-wing cross.

Stephen Thompson saw a left-foot shot deflected, the resulting Galbraith delivery punched by Hare to Gillies, who flashed a thunderous volley wide.

Marine’s timewasting antics were evident from the off, referee Dean Hulme finally giving Hare a verbal warning almost half an hour into a contest in which the visitors had made little headway.

Then they scored twice within three minutes. Two goals from nowhere.

Both came from set-pieces, the first on 29 minutes after a corner, Michael Monaghan hammering home a loose ball, and it was 2-0 after a well-executed free-kick.

Played from deep to the far post, the ball was headed back across for Adam Hughes to smash into the net beyond debutant keeper Ben Dudzinski.

“We should have taken our chances in the first half,” lamented Gray. “We allowed them to score two soft goals.

“We’ve got to defend better in general play and at set-pieces.

“I’m disappointed that we conceded soft, sloppy goals and it’s become too much of a trend this season.

“It doesn’t matter what type of set-piece it is and where it is on the pitch, you’ve got to be switched on, focused and do your job.

Almost immediately Darlington had a lifeline, when the recalled Nathan Cartman was dragged down by Hughes, but Galbraith’s penalty was stopped by Hare, another fine save.

Galbraith made amends, however, when he pulled it back to 2-1 with his ninth goal of the season, following up after Thompson hit the post following a long Gary Brown throw.

A Beck header landed on the roof of the net after he met Liam Marrs’ cross, the second opportunity in quick succession the tall striker failed to convert.

The second period was a continuation of the first; Darlington controlling play without being exciting.

Galbraith and Brown had opportunities before Darlington’s endeavour was finally rewarded midway through the half with a belting goal by Thompson.

He cracked home a half-volley with his weaker left foot, a wonderful effort worthy of being a winner, but Quakers were not inspired to go for the throat and lacked spark.

Josh Falkingham had a good chance, heading a right-wing cross back to where it came, while from 12 yards substitute Dave Syers blasted the ball into the car park, which was the cue for a Marine player to sit down claiming to be injured.

Marine’s tactics were never better demonstrated than when Kurt Sherlock took an age to leave the field when sent off in the closing stages.

He was a red-carded for dangerous play, a foul on Syers, and proceeded to dawdle off the pitch, a journey from the centre circle during which he twice felt it necessary to adjust his socks.

Such antics were repeated when Obi Anoruo ambled off when being subbed, meaning almost four minutes elapsed between the dismissal and play restarting.

Gray had no qualms with Marine’s time wasting or their defensive tactics – they set up 4-5-1 – saying: “They did a good job with it, it was something they had to do.”

As a consequence Hulme added on plenty of time, and in the eighth added minute Thompson had one last blast but his effort hit the wrong side of the side-netting, leaving Darlington facing a midweek trip to Merseyside.