York City kept a clean sheet for the fifth successive home game as they eventually shared the spoils with local rivals Darlington, who had defender Paul Arnison sent-off for a second bookable offence during added time.
Without their main creative source, Alex Lawless, due to suspension, York struggled to break down a well-drilled visitors rearguard that helped them to a sixth consecutive draw on their travels in front of the highest attendance of the season to date at Bootham Crescent.
The Quakers had the better of the opening half and after the recalled Peter Till and Danny Racchi had both comfortably cleared the target for the hosts, it was Curtis Main volleying over from inside the area at the opposite end.
Home striker Michael Rankine then hooked wide of an inviting target after Jamal Fyfield charged down an attempted clearance from keeper Sam Russell before his opposite number Michael Ingham was forced to gather a 25-yard effort from Gary Smith midway through the half.
Former Scarborough striker Chris Senior drilled over from similar range as the visitors were continuing to push forward before also turning sharply and having a shot deflected wide just before the break.
Darlington were also quicker off the mark following the restart and Liam Hatch headed over an Aaron Brown free-kick and Arnison drove wide with an ambitious long-range attempt.
But there was a clear change in the flow of the game around the hour mark as York began to exert a degree of control, although they never really suggested enough cutting edge to seriously inflict damage.
However, a lovely, patient period of passing from the home side soon ended with them creating their best chance of the game when Neil Barrett drove weakly at keeper Russell from inside the area after Gash’s clever backheel had finally opened up the visitors’ defence.
A superb turn by recent signing Fyfield then presented an opportunity for Rankine to cross from the left and Till’s shot was blocked before eventually being claimed by the keeper, while James Meredith was wayward from long-range a couple of minutes later.
Till also crossed for advanced defender Greg Young to shoot wide of Russell’s right-hand post with nine minutes remaining as York caretaker manager Andy Porter proceeded to make his full complement of changes in a bid to find the winner.
The Quakers had largely faded as an attacking source at this point, although the diminutive Senior saw a late effort charged down before Arnison was dismissed for a second yellow card during the three minutes of added time.
York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Young, Meredith, Till (Dowson 90), Racchi, Barrett (J. Smith 73), Fyfield, Gash, Rankine (Constantine 87)
subs (unused): Knight, Courtney
Darlington: Russell, Arnison, Hone, Austin, Brown, Gary Smith (Chandler 87), Terry, Clarke (McReady 78), Hatch (M. Smith 62), Senior, Main
subs (unused): Jack, Gray
Ref: R. West (E. Yorkshire)
Att: 3,176
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