Darlington boss Tommy Taylor admitted he was satisfied with a derby point against Hartlepool last night despite his side having the lead at half-time.

Mark Tinkler's second-half equaliser cancelled out Ian Clark's opener, but the draw extended Quakers' unbeaten home record against their derby rivals to six matches with the last defeat being in April 1997.

However, four of those games have ended 1-1.

Pool created more opportunities in the first half before Quakers recovered in the second period, and Taylor said: "I'll settle for 1-1, after all, it was a derby game and both teams had their chances.

"We just needed a calm head in the right areas so we could've delivered the right kind of ball.

"We scored against the run of play but we had five first-teamers out so I think we did well.

"The wind played a part because it sometimes stopped the ball from running through but overall I'm pleased with everything tonight.

"I just hope we haven't picked up anymore injuries.

"I'm pleased the lads can walk around town having not been beaten in the derby.

"They had their best team playing, we had five out and we've given them a good game.

"We'll take the point but you've got to have a look at the referee because he's blown for full-time when Brightwell is at the back post all on his own and about to volley the ball at goal - bit of the Clive Thomas in him there I think!"

But Taylor did have some words of praise for former Boro player Neil Maddison who returned to his favoured central-midfield berth where he put in his best game yet for Darlington.

"I thought Maddo tonight was magnificent," said Taylor.

"It was hard for him and Atkinson in there against two big lads including Tinkler, who wanted to come forward all the time.

"But Madds won quite a bit in the air for us and he had loads of energy all night."

Despite raising hopes that injured captain Craig Liddle would return last night, Taylor confessed his pre-match comments were a bit of kidology.

As expected, David Brightwell returned to the heart of defence, and Taylor explained: "Lids never had a chance of playing, I just thought I'd say it to see if I could wind them up.

"With Brights definitely back in there I just wanted them to think we had both our central-defenders back in there."

Pool boss Chris Turner admitted he felt his side was never in any danger, even after seeing Clark net the opener.

"I thought we were the best team out there,'' he said. "We had the best chances and Anthony Williams hasn't had a save to make in the second half.

"If Adam Boyd had put that one away when he was clear, we would have gone on to win.

"I was confident we wouldn't lose, even when we were one-down and at the break, because I knew we could play better than we were. We played the better football out there and should have won it.

"In the last two games, at York and now Darlington, it's been our final ball or pass that has let us down.

"We had chances to wrap the game up on Saturday and we had chances again here.

"We had a 15 or 20 minute spell when we put good balls in the box, but we just needed a touch to finish it off.

"I was pleased with the performance and even when we went a goal behind, we never let our heads drop.''

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