Chester 2 Darlington 2

Goals: Cooper (27 mins, 0-1), Cassidy (63 mins, 0-2) Roberts (84 mins, 1-2) Askew (85 mins 2-2)

Quakers conceded twice within a minute late in the game and dropped two points at the Deva Stadium.

It looked as if the points were in the bag as Quakers led with goals by Jake Cooper and Jake Cassidy, but they missed some good chances to make the game safe.

And it was those missed opportunities that came back to haunt them as Chester scored twice in a minute late on.

Nevertheless, until then it was an excellent performance by Quakers, with the counter-attacking causing all sorts of problems. It looked as if Quakers were going to win away from home for the second successive week.

Here's Alun's reaction:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/it-feels-like-a-defeat-admits-alun

Chester had the first half chance of the game on 5 minutes when Declan Weeks found space ten yards out after receiving a pass from Redshaw, but Danny Rose blocked his shot at the expense of a corner which was cleared.

But Quakers, playing some good passing football, slowly gained control of the game.

They had their first opportunity on 9 minutes when Jack Lambert’s corner from the left was whipped into the six yard box for the keeper to punch as far as Kevin Dos Santos, who volleyed over the top.

They nearly took the lead on 13 minutes. Lambert broke out of defence and played a perfectly-weighted ball through for Jake Cassidy to run on to, but keeper Louis Gray just managed to deflect his effort around the post.

From the corner, the ball dropped for Jake Cooper, whose effort was cleared off the line.

The game was certainly more open than last time in the FA Cup, and from a corner on the left, Chester’s Charlie Jolley headed straight at Taylor.

Quakers took a deserved lead on 27 minutes. Ben Hedley's persistence won a corner on the left, and the ball was curled over perfectly to the far post by Lambert for Cooper to head home his third goal in as many games.

It was nearly 2-0 on 35 minutes, Quakers won the ball in midfield, and Cassidy sent Dos Santos through one-on-one, but Gray pulled off a great save again.

Chester nearly levelled on 39 minutes. A header by Dudley from a right wing corner seemed to be dropping into the net until Taylor superbly pushed the ball away, then Griffiths blocked the follow up from Weeks off the line.

The half time whistle went, and Quakers could be very pleased with their efforts in the first half -- they could have been more than 1-0 up.

Half time Chester 0 Darlington 1

Chester had the first chance of the second half, when a left wing free kick was floated over to the far post for Lacey, ten yards out, to head into Taylor’s hands.

Quakers caught Chester on the break with a perfect counter attack on 63 minutes. Lambert broke away from midway inside his own half and found Jarrett Rivers, who in turn helped the ball on for Griffiths, who hit a low cross shot that the keeper fumbled, and there was Cassidy to tap in the loose ball for his fourth of the season.

And it was nearly 3-0 when Rivers crossed from the right for Lambert to volley wide.

Quakers had another chance on 74 minutes. Lambert’s free kick was deflected out for a corner, that was floated in by Rivers for Cassidy to flick just wide of the post.

Will Hatfield then put a right foot shot just wide as Chester pushed four up front.

However, Chester nearly pulled one back when Jolley found space but Taylor saved well, then Dudley hit the post with the follow up.

But Quakers broke again , and this time Griffiths popped up in the area and fired just wide of the far post.

However, Chester pulled one back with six minutes left, Kevin Roberts heading in from a left wing corner.

And then they equalised, a deep cross came in from the right for Askew to head in at the far post.

As Alun said, the result seemed more like a defeat, but there will be an opportunity to bounce back this Saturday against Gloucester.

Full time: Chester 2 Darlington 2

Darlington: 

Tommy Taylor, Griffiths, Cooper, Lawlor, Hedley; Hatfield, Rose, Lambert (sub Storey 90+2); Rivers, Cassidy, Dos Santos (sub Mondal 82)

Subs: Martin, Beauchamp, Sangyang

Chester: Gray, Roberts, Grand, Weeks, Glendon, Dudley, Horsfield (sub Askew 56), Lacey (sub Stephenson 59), Williams, Redshaw (sub Oyibo 67), Jolley

Subs: Cowan, Clark,

Booking: Lacey