Darlo have now failed to win at home since early February following a weak 2-0 home defeat against Grimsby Town.

The second bottom Mariners came into the game knowing that they needed to win to keep their survival hopes alive and two first half goals enabled them to take a grip on the game.

And manager Simon Davey is almost certain to have his mind up about certain players as Quakers failed to break down the visiting defence in the second half.

On another day, Quakers might have had keeper Nick Liversedge, in for Shane Redmond, dismissed after 10 minutes when Jean Louis Kappa Apron pounced on some hesitant defending and sent off or goal, and the keeper seemed to trip him as he tried to go around him just outside the box, but referee Mark Haywood waved play on despite Grimsby's protests.

Quakers had a great chance to open the scoring after 17 minutes, when Moor Dip sent Tadhg Purcell racing into the box, but Grimsby keeper Nick Colgan managed to block his shot.

And Grimsby showed Darlo how it should be done on 20 minutes, when centre half Oliver Lancashire was left completely unmarked on the six yard line to head home an outswinging corner from Peter Sweeney.

Quakers again had chances to equalise before half time. Purcell's 30 yard free kick was pushed round the post by Colgan, and Diop snatched at a Purcell nod down, pulling his effort wide of the left hand post.

Grimsby scored a crucial second goal in first half stoppage time. Former Darlo loanee Jamie Devitt found Micky Coulson overlapping on the right, and the midfielder pulled the ball back perfectly for Akpa Akpro to volley in from the edge of the six yard box.

Manager Simon Davey pulled off wide men Nathan Mulligan and Dan Groves at half time replacing them with teenager John McReady - the 53rd player to appear for Darlo this season - and Mark Convery.

Both made some difference as Darlo picked up the pace in the second half, with Convery earning the man of the match award for a busy second half performance, while McReady was also quite prominent.

But just like the first half, Quakers couldn't break through. They had a good 15 minute spell midway through the half in which they created two chances. Purcell nodded down a Stuart Giddings free kick for Convery to see a powerful volley touched over the bar by Colgan, and from the ensuring corner, Purcell's header was finger tipped over the crossbar.

But unfortunately Quakers couldn't score, and must wait another four days to discover whether Grimsby will be joining them in the Conference next season.