DARLINGTON have dropped a place to 14th as they could only draw 2-2 after throwing away a two-goal lead away to ten-man Leamington.

They looked set to make it three wins in a row when goals by Simon Ainge and Harvey Saunders had given Quakers a 2-0 lead.

And their position was seemingly further strengthened when Leamington had a player dismissed – Anthony Dyer seeing red for a rash lunge – six minutes before half-time.

He became the fifth opposition player in three matches to be sent off while playing against Quakers – two for FC United and two for Boston.

But unlike those matches, which Darlington won 2-0 and 1-0 respectively, they were unable to hang on to the three points against a Leamington team who began the day in 14th.

Just after the hour mark, which saw Dave Syers replace Tom Elliott, Stephen Thompson conceded a penalty for handball, the spot-kick converted by Colby Bishop for 2-1.

And Leamington’s comeback was completed on 70 minutes when Jack Edwards levelled.

Darlington are at Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday.

Darlington: Maddison; Trotman, Hughes, Galbraith; Elliott (Syers 60), Wheatley, Thompson, Nicholson, Henshall (J Burn 71); Saunders, Ainge. Subs: Glover, C Hall, Lingthep