THE first game at Feethams since last week's incredible fans' forum gave chairman George Reynolds his first opportunity to gauge the reaction of the club's supporters, and their mood will not have improved after a tame affair which ended in defeat - Darlington's eighth game without a win.

When Reynolds emerged from the players' tunnel five minutes before the game, there were none of the boos or heckling so apparent at last Thursday's fans' forum, as he received a muted response from Darlington's lowest crowd of the season.

But the players received an altogether more welcoming response when they entered the field as captain Craig Liddle led his teammates to the centre-circle where they gathered to collectively applaud the supporters who have backed them so vehemently over what has been a troubled week.

A scrappy beginning meant the game had to wait until the tenth minute before the first shot at goal when Darlington right-back Steve Harper rifled in an effort from 20 yards which flew over Steve Wilson's crossbar.

Just five minutes later Ian Clark was unfortunate to be called offside when he latched onto a perfectly-measured Brian Atkinson through-ball.

And from the resulting free-kick Macclesfield reached Quakers' penalty area for the first time but there was nobody at the far post to meet Lee Glover's low cross.

Mark Ford came close to giving Quakers the lead just five minutes into the second half but his header was too tame and seconds later Ian Clark's ambitous overhead-kick sailed wide.

The winning goal came after some fine play by the visitors as they passed their way across the Darlington penalty area before Chris Priest delivered a pin-point pass straight to substitute John Askey who made no mistake from eight yards.

Buoyed by taking the lead, Macclesfield began to boss the last 15 minutes and Darlington were thankful Macclesfield's Lambert didn't have the pace required to meet Danny Whitaker's right-wing cross.

Macclesfield wouldn't have deserved a two-goal lead and a draw would have been a fair result after a drab affair in which Darlington rarely threatened.

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