MAKE no mistake about it, Darlington's season is going to the wire.

The Third Division basement has seen more changes than a David Beckham haircut this season.

And after Macclesfield's 2-0 win at York City yesterday, the relegation trapdoor is once again perilously close to the Quakers.

Back in January, a 1-1 draw at Kidderminster catapulted Quakers onto a run which brought just one defeat in 12, seemingly ending any lingering relegation worries.

But with just one win in their last five, fifth-bottom Quakers are one of a number of teams who can fill the bottom two places.

And with current occupants Carlisle and Macclesfield continuing to grind out wins, Quakers boss David Hodgson warned: "My players have got to understand that they're facing something in life they'll never want to face again.

"If we get relegated, some of them will never play league football again.

"Too many players didn't perform and with six games to go that is a concern."

Hodgson believes their fate could be decided at Scunthorpe on May 8.

He added: "We had that chance to pull ourselves well clear a few weeks back. That has gone now. This is going right down to the wire when we go to Scunthorpe."

And should it go to the final day, it will not be the first time Quakers have descended upon Glanford Park with so much at stake. In 1989, a 5-1 defeat sent Brian Little's men down to the Conference while seven years later Quakers missed out on automatic promotion following a 3-3 draw on the final day of the season. Last season a 1-0 win at Glanford Park secured league status for another season.

On Saturday, a Steve Melton goal on the stroke of half time was enough to consign Quakers to their first away defeat since January.

"I think what hurt me and disappointed me more than anything else was that we started so well," said Hodgson.

After switching to an attack-minded 3-4-3 formation for the trip to York Street, Hodgson added: "We did everything we wanted to do. We changed our shape completely to accommodate the stadium. The pitch is so small and has little width. With three strikers we thought we could get in their last third and keep them in.

"For the first 35 minutes we did that and I thought we were quite comfortable.

"They got a scrappy goal but I thought if we could maintain our standards into the second half we could get something.

"But we didn't, which has happened far too often lately.

"The old saying is 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going'.

"Now, some aren't getting going and they're letting the whole situation get to them."

There had been only nine seconds played when Barry Conlon sent an effort over the bar after escaping his marker.

And minutes later the Irishman did well to turn on the edge of the box before firing straight at Boston keeper Paul Bastock.

On six minutes Bastock did well to deny Danny Graham. The on-loan Middlesbrough striker latched on to Neil Teggart's flick on only to see his low effort parried by the stopper.

Teggart, who has yet to score since joining Quakers on loan until the end of the season, was presented with a half chance on 19 minutes, stretching to poke the ball straight at Bastock.

The Pilgrims keeper was beaten minutes later when Craig Russell ghosted in at the back post only to send his header off the post from Neil Maddison's cross.

Bastock showed good handling on 36 minutes to collect Conlon's header from under the bar, before Brian Close was allowed space on the edge of the area only to blaze his effort over the bar.

But it was the home side, with their first shot on goal, who took an undeserved lead on the stroke of half-time.

The Quakers defence was slow to react to Tom Bennett's corner and after a scramble in the box, Melton was on hand to force the ball over the line.

Quakers were unfortunate after the interval when Graham met Teggart's flick on with a firm drive, only for it to take a deflection wide.

But it was the home side who appeared more composed in the second half.

Close decided to take matter into his own hands on 73 minutes with a woeful attempt which cleared the bar by yards.

Their frustrations came to an ugly head with 12 minutes remaining. Craig Liddle appeared to clear a cross under pressure from Dene Cropper, but as both players tangled on the floor a 14-man free for all ensued.

With nine minutes remaining, Conlon's efforts deserved more when he showed great strength to hold off Paul Ellender on the edge of the box, before turning and firing straight at Bastock.

Quakers were unlucky not to salvage a point late on when Lee Beevers cleared off the line from Graham.

Result: Boston United 1 Darlington 0.

Read more about the Quakers here.