THE noisy Darlington supporters at Walsall last weekend made it difficult for Liam Connell to make himself heard, admits the goalkeeper.

Being the keeper for the FA Cup first round tie, he was the closest to Quakers’ away contingent, which Walsall claimed numbered 1,229 though some believe that was a conservative estimate.

Nonetheless, they were vociferous in their backing during the 2-2 draw, and Connell said: “The fans didn’t shut up all game. In the first half when I was in front of them I was shouting at the lads to tell them I couldn’t hear what they were saying to me because the fans were that loud!

“We didn’t want them to shut up, but it made it easier for me in the second half as I was at the other end.”

He might have been at the other end for the second half, but Connell was back in the penalty box in front of the Quakers fans during the closing stages as Darlington threw men forward in a desperate bid to salvage an equaliser having fallen 2-1 behind on 89 minutes.

Joe Wheatley nabbed a dramatic leveller in the 97th minute, but Quakers had led 1-0 before conceding two late goals.

Connell, who signed on loan for the rest of the season from South Shields last week, said: “We took our eye off the ball for a couple of minutes and we got punished.

“It was wet and zippy, we needed to follow everything in and we did. But we didn’t for the chance they had in the second half when I managed to save it and they ran in and scored.

“The second one was my fault. I was thinking ‘I’ve screwed up here’.

“Every chance I got after that I was up for corners and free-kicks. The first time I went up was on 90 minutes, I didn’t realise there were six minutes injury time, I hadn’t heard, so everyone was saying 'what the hell is he doing'.

“You’ve always got to believe. We had some good chances in the first half and second half to extend the lead.

“Added time is played for a reason so you’ve got to push to the bitter end and we did.”

Connell reacted to Wheatley’s goal by diving into the jubilant Darlington supporters, receiving a booking for excessive celebrations, and admitted: “I thought I was going to get sent off!

“I owe Joe a massive drink for his goal, I wasn’t too far behind him when he scored.

“I dived into the crowd. I was that excited I forgot about Joe, we’d got the goal and the replay and we it was a big weight off my shoulders.

“That was for the fans. I think 1,300 travelled down, that was for them.”

The teams meet for the replay at Blackwell Meadows on Wednesday, and tickets go on general sale today at Quaker Retail and My Sportswear on Morton Park. There is no limit on the number of tickets purchased.

Quaker Retail is open today and tomorrow 10am-1pm, Sunday 11am-2pm, then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-1pm.

Seating is unreserved for seated ticket holders on the night apart from for plaque holders.

Winners of the replay will be at home to League One Oxford United in the second round.

On Saturday Darlington, now 14th, travel to Brackley, who are ninth.