Darlington throw it away

Goalkeeper Mark Tyler saved Darlington's first penalty

Darlington 2-2 Peterborough
E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Darlington missed two penalties and surrendered a 2-0 lead as Peterborough got out of jail to earn an FA Cup third round replay.

The home team were desperate to win through to a lucrative derby against north-east giants Newcastle in the fourth round.

And they were given an ideal chance to open the scoring in the 38th minute when Peterborough's Simon Rea fouled Danny Mellanby and the referee pointed to the spot.

Brian Atkinson saw his spot-kick saved by Mark Tyler, but the referee ordered it to be re-taken - and when it was, by a different Darlington player, Barry Conlon blazed it over the bar.

The Quakers recovered to open the scoring just four minutes later through Neil Wainwright, who fired a shot across Tyler's body.

Then in the 59th minute they extended that lead, Conlon making amends for his missed penalty by lobbing home left-footed.

  Key incidents

38 mins: Darlington's Brian Atkinson misses a penalty

38 mins: Kick is re-taken and Barry Conlon misses

42 mins: Darlington's Neil Wainwright opens the scoring

59 mins: Darlington's Conlon makes it 2-0

66 mins: Peterborough's David Farrell pulls a goal back

80 mins: Peterborough's Jimmy Bullard makes it 2-2

Peterborough missed a host of chances - most notably when substitute Andy Clarke shot wide of an empty goal - but Dave Farrell reduced their arrears in the 66th minute with a strike from 12 yards.

Darlington started to look edgy after that and they conceded a penalty in the 81st minute.

Jimmy Bullard kept his cool and confidently lashed in the equaliser for the Division Two side.

The replay will take place at Posh's London Road ground on Monday 21 January.

---

Darlington: Collett, Heckingbottom, Brightwell, Brumwell, Betts, Hodgson, Atkinson (Maddison 85), Ford, Wainwright (Convery 85), Mellanby (Clark 75), Conlon.

Subs Not Used: Campbell, Finch.

Goals: Wainwright 43, Conlon 59.

Peterborough: Tyler, Williams, Rea, Edwards, Joseph (Hooper 45), Toner (Andy Clarke 45), Oldfield, Bullard, Farrell, Fenn (Cullen 64), McKenzie.

Subs Not Used: Connor, Forinton.

Booked: Joseph.

Goals: Farrell 67, Bullard 82 pen.

Att: 6,832

Ref: P Richards (Preston).