Darlington 0 Droylsden 0: BLOODS’ boss Dave Pace was delighted with his team’s performance which saw his side earn a replay and book their place in the hat for the FA Cup second round draw.

Only one team has managed to shut out the Quakers this season, and no-one has yet achieved such at the Darlington Arena. Hence, this result ranks as a tremendous achievement for The Bloods.

Pace said: "We battled well, but there’s more football to come from us, but it’s still going to be very difficult. Actually, the lads are thrilled but also a little disappointed they didn’t do better.

"We came here and played 4-3-3. Not many teams do that – we were brave. We didn’t want to come and put 10 men behind the ball.

"OK, we didn’t register many shots on goal, but that was to be expected."

Droylsden keeper Craig Mawson was called into action in the opening minute as he palmed an effort from Gregg Blundell around the post before saving a volley from Ryan Valentine.

A Billy Clarke effort was then blocked on the line as the visitors started with their backs to the wall.

Mawson then suffered an injury, which threw 19-year-old Kyle Clancy into the fray, but he stayed largely untested for the remainder of the half.

After the break, Darlington could have taken the lead through Adam Griffin only for the ball to take a bobble and cause the winger to shoot wide.

Jamie McGuire’s shot was then off target for the Bloods, before Richie Foran volleyed over from the edge of the box for the hosts.

Foran was then denied by a fine save from Clancy, low to his right, with the home fans thinking that the substitute’s header had finally broken the deadlock.

Droylsden were then presented with a great chance on 66 minutes, but Matthew Tipton volleyed over from eight yards out following a Droylsden corner kick.

Clancy held on to two late efforts from Neil Austin, before a Droylsden clearance cannoned goalwards off Jason Kennedy to loop over Clancy, but also over the bar in what would have been a cruel blow.

On Clancy’s performance, Pace said: "He was shaking before he went on, but I just told him to do his best, and he pulled off a great save for us in the second half."

Saltergate, the home of Chesterfield, awaits the winners of the replay, which will be held at the Butcher’s Arms on Tuesday, November 18.

Pace added: "We’re still in for a massive test, it’s going to be very difficult indeed, but if we can play our football we might just get a result.

"Two thousand fans in our place will sound very different from 2,000 in here.

"We have just got to get at them and get amongst them, otherwise their quality will show through."