Milton Keynes Dons 1, Darlington 0.

DARLINGTON'S season may be petering out into a less than spectacular climax, but in ensuring his side will be playing League Two football next season, Dave Penney has successfully completed his first task as Quakers boss.

While many have hung on to the faint hope that Darlington could be promoted, Penney is just happy that he has retained Football League status.

When he arrived in October, Penney inherited a team that was tenth in League Two and by no means out of the promotion equation. But his initial target was to ensure Darlington didn't become embroiled in a relegation battle first.

From taking over a side that was on the periphery of a play-off place, Darlington were as low at 17th at the end of December and just seven points above the drop zone.

Penney made no secret of the fact he felt Darlington fell way short of his expectations and the January transfer window couldn't come soon enough after a disastrous Christmas period.

A spate of temporary arrivals soon averted any fears of the drop and after 13 match-unbeaten run the 'P' word was again mentioned.

In succumbing to derby rivals Hartlepool five games ago, Penney's men have not been the same side since and now they lie on the bottom half of League Two.

But, while Pools can look forward to League One football next season, Penney feels it's a case of job done - for this term at least.

"From the team we had I think they have surpassed my expectations," said Penney. "When I came in and saw what we had defensively it really worried me and that's the reason we've added the players we have.

"There was a time when we were looking over our shoulder and that's something I wanted to address first and foremost.

"We managed to do that and obviously it's disappointing that we couldn't keep our run going and get into a play-off place.

"I knew when I come that the team wasn't good enough. I'm always looking for ways to improve the squad and hopefully I'll be able to bring in the right players during the summer."

The absence of defenders Ian Miller and David Wheater has hit home in recent games, but the difference between success and failure was the absence of a big target man on Saturday.

Whereas the Dons had 6ft 4ins striker Clive Platt to meet balls in the box, Darlington had Gregg Blundell (5ft 10ins) and Julian Joachim (5ft 6ins).

Had Platt been wearing a Quakers shirt at the weekend it may have been a different story as the majority of Rory Prendergast's crosses into the box went begging.

Joachim and Blundell have been assured of their Darlington futures next season, but there is little doubt in Penney's mind that he does want a physical presence to compliment his attack.

"We need a big man up front and that option to just chuck the ball into the box," said Penney.

"Platt did nothing else, but all it needed was one good cross into the box and they scored from it.

"I can't fault the service we put into the box but there was just no-one to get on the end of Rory's crosses."

And when Darlington were able to breach the MK Dons defence Penney's men were wasteful in front of goal.

After the impressive Leon Knight somehow managed to use his 5ft 5ins frame to out-jump Patrick Collins with a header straight at Sam Russell, Mark Phillips should have scored when his back post header rebounded off the top of the stantion.

When Ademola Bankole went walkabouts in the 51st minute Blundell failed to find the space to lob the MK Dons goalkeeper.

Darlington's profligacy in front of goal was to prove costly as, with one of only two MK Dons efforts on target, Platt found the back of the net.

Scott Wiseman should have been quicker to close down Knight, who was allowed time and space on the left, before crossing for Platt, who nipped in ahead of Collins to score.

Despite the setback, Darlington continued to carve open opportunities. And after David Rowson's shot was blocked, Blundell, with only the keeper to beat, saw his attempted chip pushed away by Bankole.

The MK Dons goalkeeper was then relieved to see Collins' header fall straight into his arms when the Quakers defender had the full goal at his mercy.

After scoring with his head in the 1-1 draw with Lincoln five days earlier, Joachim met substitute Simon Johnson's cross only to send his header straight at Bankole.

Joachim was presented with another good opportunity when, from outside the area, the club record signing thundered his effort straight at Bankole.

And with the game deep into injury time Darlington's frustration was compounded when Blundell's lob looped over the bar.

"If you don't take your chances you don't win your games," said Penney. "They had two chances, one that they scored from, but we had some great chances and missed them. That was the difference."