HOT-SHOT Peter Duffield enjoyed a dream start on his return to Feethams as his third goal of the campaign earned York City a hard-fought point with last season's play-off finalists.
With only four minutes on the clock, Duffield broke the off-side trap and ran on to Gary Hobson's long punt, only to be felled by Darlington 'keeper Andrew Collett as he poked the ball round him just inside the area.
The diminutive hitman picked himself up and sent Collett - still on the field after being shown yellow rather than red - the wrong way from the spot to give City an early lead.
It was Duffield's first game back at Darlington since his pre-season switch to York, and he later admitted he could feel the pressure when taking the penalty in front of his old Tin Shed fans.
He kept a cool head, though, and the delirious City faithful must have thought it was their day.
The Minstermen, however, could only hold on to their advantage for three minutes as Darlington striker Anton Kaak rose unchallenged to thump home a header from Gary Himsworth's corner.
It stayed 1-1 for the remainder of the match, with City more than holding their own against a lacklustre Quakers attack - although the visitors had to thank the woodwork three times for keeping them level.
On the stroke of half-time, Martin Gray let fly with a 35-yard blaster which flew past a despairing Alan Fettis but cannoned back off the crossbar
Then in an amazing 15 seconds on the hour mark, Jesper Hjorth saw City right-back Barry Jones deflect his 20-yard right-foot effort on to the bar, and when the ball eventually found its way to Glenn Naylor just outside the area, his effort rebounded back off the angle.
City otherwise looked solid at the back, with Hobson and Mark Sertori in particular proving mighty hard to run round.
As noted by content boss Terry Dolan, the hosts rarely broke through the Minstermen's defensive line and Fettis did not have a shot to save in earnest.
Indeed, had City been a bit more careful at the other end, it could have been even better for Dolan's men.
Although most Minstermen would have been delighted to leave Feethams with a point, City could quite easily have gone home with all three.
A 22-yard Graham Potter free-kick on 26 minutes was plucked out of the top right corner of Darlington's goal by a stretching Collett, while another free-kick won by burly striker David McNiven just after the interval was moved ten yards further forward into the penalty box by referee Eddie Wolstenholme following Darlington dissent.
Steve Agnew's blast hit the wall, however, and McNiven's follow-up was deflected for a corner.
Just four minutes later, on-rushing midfielder Kevin Hulme should have been played in by McNiven after the latter had made a good break down the left.
However, while a low cross would have put Hulme in the clear, the striker clipped his ball too high.
The busy McNiven wasted a good chance on 64 minutes when 'keeper Collett's miscued clearance fell to him 30 yards out. The former Oldham frontman curled his attempted chip high and wide.
McNiven's 71st-minute replacement, John Williams, then played in Potter down the left, but the midfielder shot too early and Collett made a comfortable save.
With six minutes left, Duffield showed typical sharpness in the box to latch on to substitute Lee Bullock's lifted near-post cross, but his volley on the turn skidded two yards wide.
Then, with just a couple of minutes on the clock, experienced midfielder Agnew had the chance of the match.
Wayne Hall scampered down the left and his cross fell to Darren Edmondson at the back of the Quakers box.
Edmondson lifted it back in and Agnew, from just six yards out with plenty of Minstermen around him, fluffed his volley and saw the ball bounce harmlessly into Collett's hands.
Had he connected properly, it would have given City their second last-gasp victory in successive games.
Still, given Darlington's own attacking ambition, a draw was probably a fair reflection.
And winning a point away from home at an unbeaten top five team should not be sniffed at.
Darlington 1, York City 1 - City Match Facts
Nationwide League Division Three
Saturday, September 2, 2000
YORK CITY: Alan Fettis 6; Barry Jones 6, Mark Sertori 7, Gary Hobson 7, Wayne Hall 7; Darren Edmondson 7, Kevin Hulme (Lee Bullock, 77) 7, Steve Agnew 7, Graham Potter 7, Peter Duffield (Colin Alcide, 89) 6, David McNiven (John Williams, 71) 7.
Subs, not used: Matt Hocking, Neville Southall.
Bookings: Hulme (foul, 75).
Sendings-off: None.
Scorer: Peter Duffield, penalty 5min
DARLINGTON: Andrew Collett; Adam Reed, Paul Heckingbottom, Craig Liddle, Gary Himsworth; Stuart Elliott (Steven Walklate, 71), Martin Gray, Glenn Naylor; Jesper Hjorth (Gary Williamson, 71), Anton Kaak (Paul Campbell, 30), Lee Nogan.
Subs, not used: Mark Angel, Frank Van Der Geest.
Bookings: Collett (foul, 4), Himsworth (foul, 9), Heckingbottom (foul, 48), Liddle (foul, 65).
Sendings-off: None.
Scorer: Anton Kaak, 8min
Evening Press/Unique Pub Man of the Match
Although no-one stood out in a spirited team display, Graham Potter worked hard and looked comfortable on the ball.
York Match Stats
Half-time 1
Corners 6
Shots on target 4
Fouls committed 12
Darlington Match Stats
Half-time 1
Corners 8
Shots on target 3
Fouls committed 11
PICTURE: GET IT AWAY: City left-back Wayne Hall volleys the ball clear despite the attentions of Darlington's Lee Nogan
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