DARLINGTON start 2017 with a trip to Halifax Town, a club they last visited just over 15 years ago when the fixture represented the beginning of a different kind.

Tommy Taylor was starting his reign as manager when Quakers last visited the Shay in November 2001, a 2-2 draw getting the Londoner off to an unspectacular start, though it at least ended Darlington’s run of four successive league losses.

Halifax went into the fixture bottom of the then-named Division Three, while Darlington had failed to win any of their eight previous fixtures, including a trip to Scunthorpe in the LDV Vans Trophy.

That was four days before going to the Shay, before which Taylor told The Northern Echo: “We're going through a bad patch so the players are going to have to pick themselves up and put a smile on their face.

“I want more character in the side because as soon as Scunthorpe scored their heads went down.”

The new boss, however, who had replaced Gary Bennett at the helm, added: “Barry Conlon is a great player and I just feel lucky to have him here. He wins headers in the box and further back, he can hold the ball up and he’s got a very powerful shot on him, so he's an excellent player to have in the side.”

Conlon did not get on the scoresheet at Halifax as Darlington twice threw away the lead. Their two goals were scored by Paul Campbell and Neil Wainwright, who had been on loan at the Shay from Sunderland the previous season.

“I was pleased to get the goal, especially with my birthday being tomorrow," said the winger, on the eve of turning 24. “It's nice to score against the lads I played with here, but I'd have preferred the three points to be honest.”

Seven days later came the new boss’ first win, 1-0 at home to Oxford, Brian Healy scoring on his debut, but Taylor’s tenure would last only a year.

His 52 games saw 15 victories before he was replaced by assistant manager Mick Tait.

Halifax, meanwhile, were relegated at the end of the seson, becoming the first club to twice drop into the Conference. Their fate was sealed at Feethams with a 5-0 loss and they have yet to return to the Football League.

Halifax: Butler, M Clarke, Mitchell, Stoneman (Jones 80), Jules, Redfearn (Swales 80), Middleton, Harsley, Fitzpatrick, Kerrigan, Midgley (Wood 73). Subs (not used): Crookes, C Clarke

Darlington: Collett, Brumwell, Brightwell, Harper, Heckingbottom, Wainwright, Jeannin, Maddison, Betts, Campbell (Jackson 35), Conlon. Subs (not used): van der Geest (gk), Reed, Hodgson, Convery

Attendance: 2,192