Saints fought back from a two-goal deficit at the interval against a Darlington side on a six game winning streak and looking to go top with another win. A goal by Callum Stead brought the visitors back into the game and a late leveller in which both Stead and Cosmos played their part saw Roger Johnson’s side complete the come-back.

“We more than deserved a point,” Roger Johnson said. “The first half was poor but we got a reaction after the break, I made a couple of changes that were needed and there was only one team in it.”

After a bright start by the visitors, the home side took over and on 13 minutes Danny Rose put The Quakers ahead with a neat side-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area, Danny Lewis having repelled the original effort. The lead was extended on 43 minutes as a penalty was needlessly conceded allowing Mark Beck to make no mistake from the spot.

But Brackley emerged for the second half and were immediately on the front foot. Substitute Cosmos set up Stead whose turn and finish were exquisite to reduce the deficit with just 5 minutes of the second period played.

Darlington struggled to threaten Lewis’ goal but with time running out they were heading for top spot. With 89 minutes played Cosmos fed Stead whose shot somehow evaded keeper Tommy Taylor but was deflected into the goal by a defender off Taylor to level the scores. In added time Saints twice went close as The Quakers were relieved to hang onto a point.

“I am really pleased with the second-half performance,” Johnson added. “This is a process and we are just two games in. The players need to believe in what we are doing and what we are telling them.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Walker, Armson (Woods 46), Cullinane-Liburd, Dean, Calder (Cosmos 46), Murombedzi, Rooney, Stead, York (Flanagan 86). Subs unused: Richards, Lopes.

Darlington. Taylor, Dodds, Sukar, Rose (Liddle 79), Lawlor, Hedley, Hazel, Lambert (Rivers 74), Beck, Purver, Felix. Subs unused: Moke, Mondal, Barbosa.

Referee: James Westgate Assistants: Jan Suchecki and Matthew Langdon
Attendance: 1710