LEAMINGTON battled to a 1-1 draw away at high-flying Darlington as the Brakes surrendered a half-time lead having netted for the first time on the road since August.
The Brakes led through Ben Hedley’s own goal only for Jake Lawlor to equalise just past the hour mark at Blackwell Meadows.
And the result means Leamington sit 12th in the National League North table
Leamington went close through Devon Kelly-Evans’ as the midfielder’s driven free-kick from 25-yards out went inches past the post.
And Simeon Maye was next to try his luck when he glanced a header just over the crossbar from Kelly-Evans’ left wing free-kick.
Darlington’s first real chance of the match saw Lawlor slice over when well-placed to score before Callum Hawkins made a smart save to deny Jack Lambert.
The game’s opening goal came out of nothing on 27 minutes as Dan Dodds inadvertently cleared the ball off of Hedley and into his own goal.
And Leamington almost grabbed a crucial second goal when Reid lifted the ball over onrushing Darlington goalkeeper Tommy Taylor only for Lawlor to race back and head the ball off the line.
The Brakes remained on top in the early stages of the second half when Adam Walker was slipped in by Kelly-Evans only for Taylor to block the shot with his legs.
Darlington responded when Mark Beck stabbed over from inside the six-yard box before a header went inches wide following a scramble in the box at a corner kick.
And the home side eventually drew level on 64 minutes when Lawlor lashed the ball into the roof of the net after Leamington failed to clear their lines at a corner.
Darlington should have won the game late on when substitute Jacob Hazel was played in over the top and squared the ball to Lambert only for the midfielder to poke the ball agonisingly wide of the post.
Leamington are next in action away at Blyth Spartans TONIGHT (Tuesday, November 1) with kick-off at 7.45pm at Croft Park.
