A battling goodbye from Quakers

And some were even there to witness it for themselves.

The pre-match parade of former Feethams' favourites, which included the likes of Ron Greener, Colin Sinclair and Kevan Smith among others, was worth the admission fee alone.

And barring a nervy opening 45 minutes, the current crop of stars didn't disappoint in front of their predecessors.

Leyton Orient arrived with the intention of playing party-poopers for the day and they very nearly did just that.

Matt Lockwood's 26th minute opener soon silenced the bumper crowd which was left stunned when Gary Alexander added a second.

"Obviously it was never going to be like any other matchday and I'm just pleased the lads have stuck in there and got a point out of it," said boss Mick Tait.

"To go 2-0 down was a disaster especially on such a big day.

"We were very sloppy and not for the first time this season its cost us, but we stuck at it and in the end we got a point out of it.

"It was important we didn't let the occasion get to us but I thought the way we started maybes showed that it did a bit.

"At one point it looked as though the whole day was going to be a bit too much for the players."

Jim Corbett's strike a minute before half-time handed Quakers a lifeline and substitute Neil Wainwright's 76th minute leveller was pure fairy tale.

The winger had only been on a minute when his stretching header found its way into the top corner of the net, fittingly in front of the Tin Shed.

What followed was a barrage of pressure from Quakers, desperate to go one better, the players desperate to be part of history.

And but for a fantastic reflex save from keeper Glenn Morris at the death to deny Corbett, Quakers may well have gave Feethams a winning send off.

"We gave ourselves some hope with Jim's goal before half-time," said Tait.

"I spoke to the players in the dressing room and we knew the game was there for the taking in the second half.

"We got at them and we could have ended up winning. We didn't quite pull it off but at least we didn't lose."

Quakers' edginess was evident early on but they hit back in the 11th minute.

Tom Newey produced a sweeping cross-field ball for defender Ryan Valentine who raced in on goal only to see his low shot easily saved by Morris.

The impressive Newey, who looks set to join the club on a permanent basis in the summer, then showed great skill down the left to beat two players before whipping in a cross which Conlon could only glance wide.

Newey was again involved in Quakers' next move when he crossed for top scorer Barry Conlon, who chested down before firing straight at Morris.

And from Morris' resulting quick throw, Gary Alexander found space before playing in Lockwood, who beat Collett at his near post after 26 minutes.

Worse was to follow ten minutes later when Stuart Whitehead misjudged the bounce of the ball before letting in Alexander who nipped ahead of Collett to poke home.

Orient's second was perhaps just the wake-up call Quakers needed and with just a minute of the first half remaining Corbett pulled a goal back - latching on to Newey's scuffed effort.

Quakers continued to push forward in search of an equaliser and skipper Craig Liddle almost levelled when he headed over Valentine's pinpoint free-kick from the right.

Matt Clarke put a similar effort over before Chris Tate almost added a third for Orient when he sent Alexander's cross over the bar.

Tait introduced Wainwright with 15 minutes left in what can only be described as inspired because 60 seconds later the winger was celebrating his side's equaliser.

Fellow substitute Ian Clark lobbed in a high cross and Wainwright was on hand to head past Morris to send the Feethams crowd into absolute delirium.

The introduction of exit-bound Neil Maddison further aroused the passions of the home support who welcomed the midfielder with a standing ovation.

And despite a late barrage of pressure from the home side Quakers were made to settle for a point for the final time at Feethams.