DARLINGTON were held to a drab 0-0 draw at home to second-bottom Leamington, a team who played for a point but almost ended up with all three.

Quakers had all of the ball against a team that had conceded in every game until today, but were unable to turn their possession into goals, finding it difficult to breakdown opposition that defended in numbers.

Leamington had a defence-first policy, and time-wasted from the beginning, but almost snatched a win in injury time, Darlington thankful for Kieran Dunbar heading wide when unmarked close to goal.

Instead, it ended goalless, a seventh game without a win for Quakers, meaning Martin Gray’s men recorded a rare clean sheet, which is an improvement on midweek when they were very poor and lost 4-1 at Chorley.

As a consequence of that result Gray made four changes, the most notable being returning Nathan Cartman to the starting line-up after a loan spell at Farsley Celtic.

Dave Syers, Terry Galbraith and James Caton also returned, Gray opting for a back-to-basics 4-4-2.

Though Darlington had the bulk of possession during the first 45 minutes against defensive opposition, it was a drab first half on the whole with few clear chances.

It was Quakers who did almost all of the pressing, their first glimpse of goal came when Josh Gillies whipped a free-kick wide, given after James Caton had been tripped 25 yards out.

After combining with left-back David Ferguson, Caton crossed to Mark Beck at the far post, but goalkeeper Tony Breeden got there first.

This was in the 12th minute, by which stage the referee had already had to have a word with Tony Breeden, presumably about how long he was taking at goal kicks.

There flashes of good football from Darlington. One passage of play started with a Terry Galbraith pass into Dave Syers who played a one-two with Gillies and charged into the penalty area, winning a corner with a shot that was blocked by Junior English, the resultant corner cleared by the visitors.

Dom Collins was able to continue after receiving treatment from physio Jimmy Nesbitt, and after returning to the pitch he ambled gingerly towards the opposition penalty area where, with his first touch, flicked a Galbraith free-kick into the keeper’s hands.

The closest Darlington came to taking the lead in the first half came after Gillies crossed, Beck headed against the keeper at close-range, the ball rebounding off the striker and behind for a goal kick.

Perhaps on another occasion, when the goals are flowing for the striker, that chance would have resulted in a goal, instead the half ended scoreless.

But not before Collins limped off with a groin strain, the summer signing becoming Darlington’s fifth defensive casualty.

He joins Liam Marrs, Chris Hunter, Kevin Burgess and Gary Brown in being unavailable, 18-year-old Jack Vaulks required off the bench to slot into the centre of defence.

A second change for Darlington came not long into the second half and it was yet another injury, this time emergency right-back Tom Portas going off, replaced by Leon Scott. Portas later reported it was precautionary measure due to a hamstring strain.

Cartman had a shot blocked and after a good cross by Turnbull, whipping the ball in with his left foot, Beck challenged and the keeper who claimed the ball.

But Quakers’ attacks were not dangerous enough, too reliant on Beck, and as the game progressed they left gaps at the back which Leamington almost exploited.

There was a let-off when Charley Edge crossed from the left to the far post where Stefan Moore blasted over.

Turnbull, one of Darlington’s better players today, provided a ball over the defence for Beck who chested it down, but before he could turn keeper Breeden was on the scene.

For a period Darlington really had have Leamington under the cosh, ten of their players were in the penalty area defending, making it very difficult to score in such circumstances.

They weathered the storm and, as it began to rain heavily in the final few minutes, Leamington twice nearly snatched the points.

Kutis Revan cut inside and forced Adam Bartlett into a save, Darlington scrambling the ball away, and then Dunbar somehow put a free header wide.

Darlington hope for an improvement on Wednesday when they are at home to FC United.

Bookings: Edwards (75, foul), Dunbar (90, dissent)

Referee: Martyn Rawcliffe

Attendance: 1,277

Darlington: Bartlett; Portas (Scott 55), Collins (Vaulks 31), Galbraith, Ferguson; Gillies, Turnbull, Syers, Caton (Saunders 62); Beck, Cartman. Subs: Wilczynski (gk), Thompson

Leamington: Breeden; Taundry (Magunda 31), English, Mace, Gudger; Dunbar, Gittings, Clarke, Edwards, Edge; Moore (Bishop 76). Subs: Thompson-Brown, Revan, Butterfield