For 23 minutes it was game on. January 26 was going to be a date to put in your diaries because Darlington v Newcastle was a reality - and then Quakers threw away a 2-0 lead to allow Peterborough to earn a replay.

Eighteen months ago Peterborough spoiled Darlington's anticipated promotion party when they beat the Quakers in the Third Division play-off final at Wembley.

And on Tuesday night they were party poopers once again as the Posh put Darlington's dreams of a fourth round tie against Newcastle on ice until Monday when the sides will meet again at London Road.

With 30 minutes to play, Quakers were two goals to the good and a clash with Bobby Robson's side looked a certainty, but then Peterborough crept back into the match with the equaliser coming via a penalty given away when David Brightwell made a clumsy challenge.

But although Darlington fans and players alike will be deeply disappointed, the draw was a fair result as it was Quakers who showed more invention during the first half in which Brian Atkinson and then Barry Conlon both missed penalties, Conlon's effort bringing back memories of Chris Waddle's miss at Italia 90.

The game began with Darlington looking by far the better side with Barry Conlon and Neil Wainwright both looking dangerous.

Within the first six minutes Conlon demonstrated exactly what Darlington have been missing during his six-week absence as he twice won aerial duels before laying the ball off to an opponent. On the first occasion Danny Mellanby fired in a scuffed shot and the second saw a Conlon blast at goal saved by the keeper.

But Darlington's fast-paced football came to a stand-still midway through the first period as each side froze amid the big match atmosphere, only the visitors forced any efforts on the goal but the majority failed to test Andy Collett.

With the game moving along with neither side looking likely to open the scoring, Quakers were gifted two golden opportunities to score: both of them penalties, and Darlington fluffed both of them.

Mellanby was felled in the area by Posh captain Andy Edwards, but Atkinson, who put in a sterling performance, saw his spot-kick saved by Mark Tyler, however, the linesman has noticed the keeper had been stood yards off his line when the kick was taken.

For the re-take Conlon, who also missed from 12 yards at Luton earlier in the seaosn, grabbed the ball and was clearly determined to to score on his return to action.

But his blasted effort sailed over not just the crossbar, but also the Polam Lane end and into the car park behind.

It was a dreadful effort, but his blushes were saved when Wainwright scored just two minutes before the break. The former Sunderland winger, who, ironically scored past the Posh at Feethams on his Darlington debut almost two years ago, was sent clear after Atkinson measured a great pass into his path to fire past Tyler.

The goal was a fantastic reaction to missing the two penalties after which Quakers' confidence could easily have crumbled.

At half-time Barry Fry made two substitutions with Andy Clarke, the man who scored the winning goal at Wembley, entering the fray, and it was his side who looked likely to score at the beginning of the second half.

With three minutes, Collett made a great double save from Jimmy Bullard and then Neil Fenn before Clark fired wide having taken the ball past Collett.

The game looked over when Quakers doubled their lead with a strike identical to the goal scored in the first round at Altrincham when Dan Chillingworth converted a long ball from Collett.

Collett hoofed a clearance down field and true route-one fashion, Conlon held off his marker to lob the keeper and send the Feethams crowd into delerium - Newcastle looked set for a clash at Feethams a week on Sunday.

But Peterborough didn't crumble and gradually took control, looking much the more likely scorers as Darlington's nerves appeared to show.

David Farrell pulled a goal back at a vital time when he drilled low past Collett to give the visitors hope.

All of the Darlington fan's fears were realised just eight minutes from time when Brightwell was adjudged to have felled the lively Leon McKenzie in the penalty area.

And so upstepped Bullard to rescue a draw for the Posh and leave Darlington wondering what might have been.

* Craig Liddle makes return from injury when he turns out for the reserves at Blackpool on Wednesday afternoon.

The central-defender has been out injured since October's match versus Hull when he broke his leg when landing badly and if all goes well he could be back on for Saturday's home game with Southend.

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