Blue Square Bet Premier
Saturday 14 April 2012 - Northern Echo Arena - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 0-1 result: D2-2 attendance: 1420
team: Garner, Rollo (c) (Stonehouse 66), Jones, Preece, Gallinagh, Connolly, Hogg, M Canham (Murray 46), Watkins, Russell, Cook (S Canham 46). subs not used: Simpson, Egan
man of the match: Scott Murray
scorers: Russell (83), Murray (89)
bookings: none
officials: S Duncan (Newcastle)
league position: 24th form: LLLWLD next match: Gateshead (H)
Report taken from

Veteran midfielders Alex Russell and Scott Murray both struck in the last seven minutes to salvage an unlikely point for Bath City against fellow relegated club Darlington. Trailing to a 34th-minute goal from Notts County loanee Haydn Hollis, Adie Britton's men looked to have been condemned to another defeat when Adam Rundle doubled Darlington's advantage with just nine minutes to go. However, Russell immediately pulled one back with an outstanding 30-yard lob and substitute Murray produced another moment of inspiration to level in the 89th minute, cutting inside two defenders before firing home from outside the box. Despite the comeback, which echoed the meeting of the two teams at Twerton Park last season, City will feel this was an opportunity wasted against a financially-stricken Darlington outfit which has not recorded a league win since December 17. Victory at the Northern Echo Arena would have lifted City off the bottom of the table for the first time since August 29 and above Kettering, who were thrashed 6-1 at Kidderminster Harriers. Last season's tenth-placed league finish for City was largely down to a succession of late goals, a skill which - since the departure of Kaid Mohamed - largely seemed to have deserted Britton's team.

And the early stages of this match gave little hint of the grand finale to come as both sides mis-hit passes on a surprisingly wet and heavy surface. City had restored Marc Canham and Andy Gallinagh to their line-up but, despite ample possession, the visitors did little to trouble keeper Jordan Pickford. It was the Quakers who, although no less profligate with their passing, had the first real chance after 28 minutes. A mistake by Jim Rollo allowed Jim McReady to slip in down the left flank but his shot was smothered at the last minute by the city defence. It should have served as a warning but the home side repeated the trick five minutes later - and this time to great effect. Again a cross came in from the left, this time from the impressive Rundle, and an unmarked Hollis arrived late to stab the ball home. City had a good chance to equalise a couple of minutes later after Adam Connolly was fouled on the right. Canham's deep free-kick found Mark Preece at the far post, only for the defender to put his header narrowly wide. The visitors then had another let-off when Rollo again gave the ball away, this to Derek Broughton, but he fired wide.

That escape gave City confidence that they could turn it around in the second half, with Britton adopting an attacking approach as the fit-again Sean Canham and Murray came on for Jamie Cook and Mark Canham. With the half only five minutes old, Murray put in a rasping shot that Pickford needed two attempts to hold. Marley Watkins also twice went close but put his first shot over the bar and the second, on the turn, tamely into the keeper's hands. City then thought they had levelled the scores when Sean Canham broke free and put the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled offside. Darlington still possessed a threat and could have doubled their lead when a ball over the top sent Ryan Bowman racing through on goal. However, City keeper Glyn Garner reacted brilliantly, racing off his line and stretching out a foot to deflect the ball behind for a corner. However, he was beaten ten minutes later when another cross into the box, this time from the right, saw City fail to pick up their markers and Rundle fired home through a crowd of players. As the clock ticked down, there looked to be little on for City when Sean Canham misjudged the flight of a long punt forward by Garner. However, the ball hit the back of the striker's head and rebounded into the path of Russell, who turned what threatened to be a comedy moment into one of triumph as he spied Pickford off his line and executed a perfect lob over the keeper. City's joy was then complete when Murray rounded off the afternoon with another fine goal. Connolly, who had battled away all afternoon, played a perfect pass out to the right for the veteran winger. He jinked past two defenders and hugged the edge of the 18-yard box before unleashing an unstoppable shot to give City a welcome share of the spoils.