DEFIANT Darlington skipper Matt Clarke insists there is still everything to play for despite dropping out of the play-off zone at the weekend.

Quakers slipped down to eighth in League Two after they were held to a goalless draw at Lincoln City, as Northampton Town moved up to seventh following their 2-0 win at Chester City.

The Cobblers are now level on points with Quakers, but hold a two-goal advantage with one game remaining.

Quakers entertain Cheltenham on the final day of the season this weekend, while Northampton play host to relegated Kidderminster Harriers.

Saturday's stalemate at Sincil Bank was enough to see Lincoln book their place in the play-offs and Clarke has every confidence Quakers will be joining them this weekend.

"It was always going to be a difficult place to come and get three points," said Clarke. "A point is a point at the end of the day and we are only out of it on goal difference.

"There is still a lot at stake and we will be giving it everything we've got against Cheltenham. Hopefully the goals will flow for us and we can keep it tight at the back.

"It's not over until the final whistle at the end of the season."

Arguably, Northampton are in the driving seat to hold on to seventh spot when they face Kidderminster.

However, having played in Quakers' home defeat to Harriers in March, Clarke believes the outcome may not be as clear-cut as many predict.

"It wasn't an easy game against Kidderminster and I'm sure they will make it very difficult for Northampton," said Clarke. "Kidderminster have nothing else to play for and the pressure will be on Northampton.

"They still have to win and if they hear that we've got a couple of goals against Cheltenham then a bit of fear might start creeping in for them."

Quakers have been in and around the fringes of the top seven since breaking back into the top half of League Two, ironically after a 2-0 win at Cheltenham in November.

But on Saturday they dropped out of the play-off zone for the sixth time this season.

"We've been up there for the majority of the season and it would be heartbreaking not to reach the play-offs," said Clarke. "We all want to be at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff next month and in a higher division next season where we feel we should be.

"When you look back there are lot of games where we've dropped points, but we have to forget about that now and concentrate on the Cheltenham game.

"Whatever happens on Saturday we all want to look back and say we've given it our all."

In the space of 12 months Clarke has been part of a Quakers side which has narrowly avoided relegation to one which the defender feels should be playing League One football next season.

"At the start of the season I think everybody was happy to talk about consolidating our position in the league," said Clarke.

"But we've brought in some big players and the expectations have been higher.

"There is a genuine belief within the squad that we should have gone up automatically this season."

And, while Quakers were disappointingly shot-shy at the weekend, Clarke - on his return to the side after a two-match ban - was pleased with the way they defended against a towering and subsequently direct Lincoln side.

"It was quite incredible really and I think you can see why they get goals," said Clarke. "They have big lads who are dangerous at set-pieces and they can defend well too.

"They are a difficult team to defend against but I think the clean sheet we kept tells you the story really."

And, having partnered Matthew Bates for the first time, Clarke was full of praise for the on-loan Middlesbrough defender.

"Matthew is only young but you can see that he is Premiership quality," said Clarke.

"It's a good learning curve for him to play here and it will only improve him as a player when he goes back to Middlesbrough.

"It's the first time I've played alongside him and I can see why he's so highly-rated. I'm sure he will have a very big future in the game."

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