Craig Mackail-Smith scored two minutes from time to earn Peterborough United a 1-1 draw at table toppers Darlington in a game that didn't really come to life until the final 20 minutes as the action switched from end to end following the dismissal of Quakers midfielder Xavier Barrua.

After the initial panic over team selection for both sides, the League Two encounter got underway in glorious late summer sunshine and goalkeeper Shwan Jalal was afforded an early touch of the ball. Midfielder Charlie Lee tested Andy Oakes with a fierce left-foot drive before Posh won the first corner kick of the afternoon on two minutes.

Lee had Oakes working again moments later as Darlington struggled to deal with Jamie Day's corner kick with the shot-stopper smothering the effort under pressure from Craig Mackail-Smith, making his first start of the campaign.

Posh came close to breaking the deadlock on nine minutes as Day picked out the on-rushing Dean Keates, but he saw his left-foot shot tipped over the crossbar by the over-worked Oakes. Lee headed the resulting corner kick over the crossbar under severe pressure from Alan White.

Youngster Day was the first man cautioned after a late challenge on Mickey Cummins with the official taking his time before dipping into his pocket. Gregg Blundell left Kieran Charnock treading water at the other end before Cummins sent a looping header over the top as Posh appealed in vain for an offside flag.

The home side won their first corner kick on 16 minutes as Westwood conceded under pressure from Rob Purdie, but Micah Hyde cleared the danger at the near post. A superb cross from Day eluded Mackail-Smith in the six-yard box as Posh continued to create the more notable chances in front of goal.

The referee was certainly not winning any friends in blue, after ignoring a cynical tackle on Day he then just had a 'word' with White as he chopped down Lee. The referee then of course booked Charnock for jumping into Commons, infuriating the Posh management and baffling onlookers.

White finally received a booking for hacking down Mackail-Smith to the delight of the travelling support. Mackail-Smith was frightening the Darlington defence with his pace and he went past White like he wasn't there on 35 minutes, but his cross was cut out at the near post.

The pace of Joachim was exposed on the right for the first time on 42 minutes, but Morgan did well to clear the danger for a corner kick. As the encounter entered three minutes of injury time, Posh won a corner kick as Keates was tackled by Joachim and as the ball came into play, Charnock headed a presentable effort over the bar from Morgan's cross.

Former Posh defender White came close to putting past his own goalkeeper following a fine cross from Day as Posh started the second half well. A tactical switch saw Joachim given a run down the middle with Xavier Barrua replacing former Ipswich Town centre back Ian Miller.

A great burst from Lee saw him breeze past two defenders, but his left-foot shot was deflected wide for a corner kick. Lee then screwed a shot well wide after Day's set-piece had only been half-cleared.

The grey-haired Clark Keltie replaced the injured Ravenhill in the Quakers midfield just before the hour mark. The Quakers got their noses in front on 63 minutes as a cross from Joachim picked out Tommy WRIGHT and he powered a header past Jalal and into the back of the net. It was the first effort on target for the home side in the entire game, but when you leave a striker unmarked in the area with the aerial ability of Wright, you are asking for trouble and he didn't disappoint.

Mackail-Smith saw a left-foot lob fly over the top after getting advanced of White, but he couldn't direct his effort towards goal under pressure from goalkeeper Oakes. George Boyd replaced Keates with 20 minutes to go as Posh attempted to get back into the game and silence the majority of the 3,900 crowd.

Substitute Barrau was shown a second yellow card on 73 minutes and a resulting red for a terrible late lunge on Westwood to give Posh hope and Charnock should have done better from a Newton cross, but he powered over.

Rene Howe was introduced for Westwood as Posh piled players forward hoping to take advantage of their numerical aid and Mackail-Smith saw a glancing header just brush the post. Howe was denied a perfect introduction as he acrobatic volley flew narrowly over the top.

Jalal made his first save of the afternoon moments later following a snap-shot from Wright as Posh left gaps at the back. A glancing header from Howe didn't trouble Oakes as the injured Wright was replaced by Neil Wainwright.

Charnock then headed a Day corner wide of the target as the pressure intensified on the hosts as they tried to soak up the pressure. The Darlington defence finally caved two minutes from time as Ryan cleared from MACKAIL-SMITH and into the path of Boyd, whose shot was saved by Oakes, but the former Dagenham and Redbridge front man was on hand to poke home the equaliser.

Deep into four minutes of stoppage time Lee was penalised for a foul on Keltie and the same player struck the foot of the post via a deflection off Mclean before the referee brought an end to proceedings. The honours were shared and it was a collective booing of the officials who were awful at best throughout.

Final Score: Darlington 1-1 Peterborough United

Referee: Mr M Haywood (West Yorkshire)