BARRING freak results, Quakers are safe from relegation, but they seem determined to finish second from bottom in the Nationwide Third Division.

Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at bottom club Torquay United was their third loss in a row.

Adam Reed and John Williams went close at Plainmoor before full back Olivier Bernard put Darlington ahead after 55 minutes with an 18-yard drive. But five minutes later, Torquay were level when Gareth Law netted after Quakers' keeper Andy Collett failed to hold a shot.

The game seemed destined for a draw until John Gayles forced home the winner with two minutes to go.

On Saturday, Quakers had the worst of a game against their old boys Brian Little and Kevan Smith, now the management duo at Hull City.

Both the Tigers' goals came from defensive mistakes. After eight minutes, Craig Liddle's misdirected clearance hit fellow defender Alex Jeannin and ballooned into the net. Then, on half-time, Collett's miskick ricocheted to John Eyre, who coolly scored.

After the break, Hull showed all the qualities of Little's Darlington promotion teams - organisation, discipline and professionalism - to complete a shut-out.

Tomorrow, as their disappointing season stutters to a close, Quakers travel to new bottom club Halifax Town, while on Tuesday they are at Mansfield Town.