'SECOND Chance Sunday' on Channel Four may be seen as a Godsend to ardent Hollyoaks fans, but Darlington supporters are warming to League Two's offering of second chance Saturday's.

The viewing may not have the looks or the peroxide - with the exception of Chris Hughes - yet the unfolding drama is must-see stuff.

Predictably unpredictable, Quakers' season has had more twists and turns than writer Phil Redmond's latest storyline.

And as League Two reaches its gripping climax, nobody is quite sure how the story will end. On Saturday's showing few would envisage a happy outcome come May 7. But then again this is Darlington, and between now and then anything can, and probably will, happen.

In that time David Hodgson arguably faces the most important four games of his managerial career. While the top six is all-but assured, seventh-placed Quakers are one of four teams - Northampton, Wycombe and Rochdale - competing for the fourth and final play-off spot.

Of the quartet Rochdale are the only side showing signs of consistency. Dale have lost just once in their last ten and that was against Southend, who have extended their unbeaten run to 15 league games.

After March's three-match winning streak, Quakers have recorded just one win in four since then, culminating in Saturday's loss to bottom-of-the-table Cambridge.

For the umpteenth time this season Quakers demonstrated a distinct lack of professionalism in dealing with a struggling side, which started the day nine points adrift of safety. Of the 12 teams that currently occupy the bottom half of League Two, Hodgson's men have lost to eight.

Yet incredibly, and due to the overwhelming inconsistency of every side outside the top six, Quakers remain in the play-off mix. Thanks to Scunthorpe's win at Northampton, Quakers remain in the top seven, holding a slender one-point advantage over the Cobblers.

"No matter how much I think about it I just can't explain some of these games," said Hodgson. "I do not understand how a group of players cannot grasp that they are in a fantastic position.

"We should have been going in to the game full of confidence and taking Cambridge to pieces.

"In my whole time in management I've never know a team to be so inconsistent."

On paper, Quakers arguably have a side that would give the class of 2000 - which reached the old Third Division play-off final - a run for its money.

But if any points were earned on collective team spirit then Hodgson's team of five years ago would hold the upper-hand.

"For me Saturday went wrong from the 20th minute when I saw Matty Appleby having a go at Adrian Webster," said Hodgson. "Webby started screaming back and then all of a sudden others are getting involved. From then on everything went out of the window."

Regardless of next week's result at Mansfield, the 'will they, won't they?' debate is unlikely to reach a conclusion until the first week in May, when Quakers entertain Cheltenham on the final day of the season. Before then Hodgson will also cast an eye over which players do and don't have a future at the Williamson Motors Stadium.

Indeed, as well as the pressure on finishing in the top seven, Hodgson has the majority of a 30-plus squad vying for contract extensions at the end of the season.

"Everybody is anxious because they want to know what their future's hold," said Hodgson. "We have something to play for and the players need to think about that.

"At the moment there just seems to be a weight on everybody's shoulders. Some players might have to accept that they cannot deal with the pressure."

Clyde Wijnhard's ninth minute opener only provided Quakers with temporary relief, before Iwan Roberts levelled.

"The game was there for the taking, but a simple lack of concentration allowed Cambridge back into the game," said Hodgson.

Craig Russell was unlucky not to restore Quakers' lead in the 25th minute when his downward header was palmed onto the upright by Everton-bound stopper John Ruddy at the near post.

Making his first start since October, Stephen Thomas turned his free-kick wastefully over the bar, before the impressive Bobby Petta - playing a free role behind the front two - side-footed straight at Ruddy after a neat exchange of passes with Wijnhard.

At the other end Sam Russell had to be alert to block from Roberts after an Appleby error.

However, there seemed little the Quakers keeper could do about Cambridge's second goal four minutes into the second half. Despite appeals for offside ex-Quakers striker Dan Chillingworth's flick-on was met at the back post by Us captain Andy Duncan, who headed home.

The former Middlesbrough stopper then redeemed himself with a superb double point-blank save from Roberts.

In the 54th minute Ruddy was well positioned at his near post to block Wijnhard's volley, before the Dutchman turned and shot straight at the Us keeper after another incisive run from Petta.

While the former Ipswich winger continued to give every Us player in sight the run-around, it was Craig Russell who should have levelled when his shot was well saved by Ruddy with 71 minutes played.

Five minutes later former Quakers midfielder Ashley Nicholls cleared off the line to deny substitute Akpo Sodje his first goal for the club.

And, after Petta beat Chillingworth down the left, the Dutchman squared for Adrian Webster, who could only find the side-netting.

The game was put beyond Quakers by substitute John Turner, beating Sam Russell after his initial effort was blocked.

Result: Cambridge United 3 Darlington 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.