Caretaker boss Mick Tait could take few plus points from the performance at Macclesfield on Saturday - but there were plenty on offer at Feethams yesterday.

On Saturday Quakers lacked passion, commitment and the determination which has played such a large part in their 12 victories this season.

Yesterday, however, Tait was delighted to see those winning ingredients return as Quakers made light work of Peter Taylor's Hull City.

The win mathematically confirms Quakers' Third Division status after second half goals from Tom Newey and Barry Conlon ensured a season's double over the Tigers.

"We played well today and I think we fully deserved the points," said Tait.

"The players were a bit disappointed with themselves after Saturday.

"The commitment was there, we created plenty of chances and that was something we were lacking against Macclesfield.

"Overall I was delighted with the performance."

Tait made two changes from the side which lost at Macclesfield, including the surprise omission of goalkeeper Andy Collett who made way for Chris Porter, making only his third start of the season - the last was against non-league Farnborough Town in the FA Cup in January.

"Andy has been carrying a bit of a knock on the shoulder and he said today's game was a bit too soon for him," Tait confirmed.

The only other change saw Clark Keltie return to the side at the expense of Neil Maddison.

And it was Keltie who produced the first effort when he sliced over from Ashley Nicholls' corner.

Nicholls then had a go at goal himself when he combined well with Jim Corbett before volleying over the bar.

Quakers continued to apply the early pressure and Gary Pearson was unlucky to see his well struck free-kick deflected wide from the edge of the area.

At the other end Damien Delaney fired over while Tigers' teammate Marc Joseph failed to hit the target when he cleared the bar with a volley after a superb cross-field ball from Jon Otsemobor.

As the game continued to move from end to end former York goalkeeper Alan Fettis was at full stretch to tip wide Pearson's low left-footed drive after 22 minutes.

And with five minutes of the half remaining the Northern Ireland international keeper was positioned well at his near post to thwart Pearson with a low save.

But the half belonged to Fettis' opposite number Porter who produced a miraculous save to deny Justin Whittle - clawing away superbly one-handed.

And with just 25 seconds of the second half played Porter was called into action again when he saved from Ben Burgess after Matt Clarke got into a terrible tangle with himself.

Burgess, a £100,000 signing from Stockport on transfer deadline day, should have done better when he fired straight at Porter, who eventually smothered after his initial block.

And just as the visitors appeared to be making some progress Newey broke the deadlock with his first goal for the club.

There didn't appear to be any real danger when Barry Conlon received the ball on the halfway line, where he managed to twist and turn before releasing Newey with a glorious sprayed pass.

The Leeds youngster escaped the attentions of Otsemobor down the left before stroking home from a tight angle.

The goal clearly lifted Quakers and Corbett came within inches of doubling the lead, heading over from Valentine's pinpoint cross.

The Tigers were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men when Nicholls went down under the challenge of last man Marc Joesph who escaped with just a yellow card.

With time running out Hull searched desperately for an equaliser but with the Quakers rearguard holding firm and Porter commanding his area superbly their hopes of salvaging a point were all in vain.

And in the final minute, Conlon sealed victory when he fired into the top corner with Fettis stranded.

The big man took a touch to control Valentine's pass, turned and rifled his powerful volley in off the underside of the crossbar for his 17th goal of the season.

Result: Darlington 2 Hull City 0.

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