A DECADE after reaching the play-off final with Darlington, Matty Appleby has all but conceded history will not be repeating itself this year.

Appleby was part of the first ever Quakers side to appear at Wembley in 1996 when they were pipped to promotion by Plymouth.

Ten years on, and now in his second spell with the club, Appleby believes it would take something out of the ordinary to make up the seven-point game, separating them from seventh with eight games remaining.

"It's an uphill task now," he admitted after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at struggling Barnet. "We've got eight games left and we would need to win most of them to even stand a chance.

"At the moment that doesn't look like happening. But until it's not mathematically possible we'll keep battling on."

Despite conceding five at home to Carlisle seven days earlier, Appleby revealed the mood in the Quakers camp was upbeat ahead of Saturday's game at the Underhill Stadium.

"We were in high spirits today and we knew we had to come here and win the game," said Appleby. "I think we set about to do that as well, but it just isn't going our way at the moment."

Quakers were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when former striker Tresor Kandol struck the all-important winner ten minutes from time.

"It's ironic at the end of the day that Tresor gets the goal for them," said Appleby.

"On the day I thought he played really well. He was their match winner, but we have to be disappointed with the way we conceded the goal."

Appleby admits confidence within the squad has taken a battering but, with the visit of Lincoln - who put five past Grimsby on Saturday - this weekend, Appleby doesn't feel there is time to dwell.

He said: "We can't afford to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves because we have another important game coming up."

Read more about the Quakers here.