A HOTLY-contested derby ended all square at the Reynolds Arena last night as Darlington reserves were held to a draw by Hartlepool United reserves.

With two strong line-ups - containing many first-team regulars - Pool twice came from behind to rescue a point in an entertaining Pontins League clash.

Danny Graham and Ian Clark were on target for Quakers, with Darrell Clarke and Antony Sweeney replying for the visitors.

With challenges flying in from both sides, it was Quakers who took a 12th-minute lead through on-loan Middlesbrough striker Graham.

Winger Neil Wainwright - rested in the 1-1 draw at Doncaster four days earlier - found space down the right before crossing low for Graham, who bundled the ball home from close range.

Watching from the stands, Quakers boss David Hodgson can't have failed to have been impressed with Graham's first-half contribution, with some neat first touches and good distribution.

With midfielder Gavin Stracham making his comeback following a knee injury, Pool drew level in the 35th minute through Clarke. After a brief melee in the box the ball eventually fell to the midfielder, who struck his effort sweetly into the bottom corner of the net.

With half-time approaching the game threatened to boil over when Gary Pearson and Andy Appleby clashed.

The pair squared up to each other after Pearson appeared to be struck in the face following a challenge on the Pool striker.

Former Hartlepool striker Clark earned his side a free-kick shortly after the break when he was brought down on the edge of the Pool area by Andrew Jordan. Predictably, Clark volunteered to take the resulting set-piece, only for Michael Coghlan to step up and fire straight at Pool keeper Dimitaos Konstantopoulos from 25 yards.

Gavin Parkin, a half-time substitute for Graham, should have scored on 69 minutes when he capitalised on an Andy Jordan slip, only to send a tame effort straight at Konstantopoulos from 18 yards.

Moments later Quakers did regain the lead through Clark. After good work down the left by substitute Dale Mendum, Clark chested down before firing low past Konstantopoulos.

But Quakers' lead was short-lived as substitute Sweeney levelled with a close-range volley two minutes after the restart.

Quakers almost snatched victory late on when Parkin was denied brilliantly by Konstantopoulos.

Darlington: Russell, Harrison, McGurk, Close (Collins 45min), Pearson, Toft (Mendum 75min), Keltie, Coghlan, Wainwright, Graham (Parkin 45min), Clark Subs (not used): Morley, Norton.

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Bracktone, Jordan, Barron, Craddock, Robson (Naiden 70min), Strachan, Clarke, Istead, Robinson, Appleby (Sweeney 70min) Subs (not used): Winter, Carson, McCann.

* Given the current uncertainty of the transfer market in general, Football League spokesman John Nagle does not expect to register many cash buys ahead of today's deadline. ''As in recent seasons it is likely that the majority of transfer activity on deadline day will be either loan moves or free transfers,'' said Nagle.

''The decrease in transfer activity across football continues to have a negative effect on League clubs and we are continuing with our efforts to persuade FIFA to dispense with transfer windows on a domestic basis.

Result: Darlington Reserves 2, Hartlepool Reserves 2.

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