It wasn't just the team coach which failed to fire on all cylinders at the weekend.

End of season encounters have a horrible tendency to be, well, horrible.

And Saturday's defeat at Macclesfield was proof of that. In fact it was the perfect example of a contest between two sides with little to play for this season.

It's safe to say that Quakers have performed better this season although their Third Division counterparts were just as uninspiring in 90 minutes of truly forgettable football.

Quakers' preparations for the game weren't helped when caretaker boss Mick Tait was forced to assume his latest role with the club when he drove the team to the Moss Rose Ground by mini-bus after the team coach developed problems en route.

And much like their less than professional arrival matters didn't improve when the players took to the pitch.

Danny Whitaker's superb 12th minute strike lit up an otherwise tame affair as Quakers failed to rediscover the form which saw them put five past Shrewsbury only seven days earlier.

"It was a very poor game from both sides," admitted Tait. "We had a great result last week and we wanted to keep that going.

"It's really disappointing after winning 5-1 at home and then to come away and lose it like that.

"Once again we've started really sloppily and we've been made to pay for it which was the disappointing thing. We've done it far too often and it's cost us another game."

Tait has no intention of letting the season dwindle away despite Third Division football all but assured next season.

But on Saturday's evidence Quakers' campaign is in danger of doing just that.

"We just needed that extra 10 per cent to win the match but we just didn't have it," said Tait.

"You need players who are prepared to die for a goal and there was none of that at either end.

"We got at them, pinned them back a bit but we never had that cutting edge."

Clark Keltie returned from suspension but had to settle for a place on the bench as Tait kept faith with the same side which recorded its biggest win of the season a week earlier.

The swirling wind and bobbly surface did little to encourage attractive football as both sides struggled to cope with the difficult conditions.

Midfielder Chris Priest sent an effort over with less than a minute on the clock before Kyle Lightbourne headed wide from Priest's corner.

Lightbourne then sprung the Darlington offside trap in the 11th minute but as he shaped up for a shot Matt Clarke made up ground to clear the danger.

But a minute later Quakers could do nothing about Whitaker's goal which came out of nothing.

The midfielder, who was on target in the Silkmen's 2-0 win at Hartlepool earlier in the season, produced a stunning volley from 20 yards out which gave Andy Collett no chance.

The goal was worthy of winning any contest but was perhaps a little flattering for this particular one.

Quakers looked for a way back into the game but for all their passing and build-up play they failed miserably in the final third.

Jim Corbett struggled to find ways past a tight Macclesfield defence while fellow loanee Tom Newey found the home rearguard just as unforgiving down the left.

Top scorer Barry Conlon almost found a way through in the 28th minute only to be denied by some brave goalkeeping from Lee Martin who saved at the feet of the big Irishman.

While at the other end Collett was forced to collect at the second attempt from Lightbourne's volley from outside the area.

The Quakers keeper was called into action seconds later when he held on to George Abbey's thunderous 35 yard free-kick.

Shortly after the restart Ashley Nicholls sent a low effort wide and the former Ipswich midfielder was again involved when he headed over from Ryan Valentine's deep cross from the right.

Former Liverpool trainee John Miles then made light work of Clarke down the left but his cross was well cut out by Stuart Whitehead.

Tait introduced Danny Mellanby and Keltie midway through the second half and although the latter perked things up Quakers never looked like getting back into the game.

Quakers now face Hull City this afternoon and Tait will be looking for a positive response from his players.

"We'll be looking to bounce back and put in a good performance in front of our supporters," said Tait. "I've said all season that Hull are in a false position.

"You end up where you deserve to end up and they're in mid-table for a reason. We need to give the supporters something to shout about before the end of the season."

Read more about the Quakers here.