Stags and their fans were furious when referee Michael Jones pointed to the spot on the half hour, claiming Dan Martin had held Ian Miller.

It gave on-loan Southend striker Richie Foran the chance to net from the penalty spot which he took perfectly and gave Stags a huge uphill task against an experienced side who have only conceded 15 goals all season, five of them in one game.

• Dearden fury at referee

It was the visitors' third successive win without conceding too.

But at least the Stags gave it a real go which the supporters appreciated and John McAliskey and Mickey Boulding came close with late chances.

• To view a slideshow of match action photos by Chad's Anne Shelley, click on the green play icon or view the photos in the gallery

With FA Cup vouchers on offer for the following week's visit of Midlesbrough there were about 1,000 extra home fans in the 3,344 crowd.

Stags made two changes as they welcomed back top scorer Mickey Boulding from injury and skipper and central defender Jake Buxton from suspension.

Visiting keeper Stockdale was down smartly inside the opening minute after Mullins, Buxton and Brown all got flicks onto Martin's free kick.

Mullins did well to cut out a pas from Joachim that might have put Foran in on the left.

Stags replied with a high ball from Brown towards Boulding on the left of the box and he drilled the ball hard and low wide of the far post with no one arriving quickly enough to turn it home.

Mansfield successfully defended two successive corners and, after Wright saw a header deflect wide, a third as well.

The early stages were hectic with Stags failing to get the ball down and play as they can.

Muggleton produced a superb parry on 16 minutes after Austin slipped Cummins into the box and the keeper had to turn his piledriver finish over the top.

Muggleton then failed to get a clean punch onto Mayo's fifth corner and was lucky no one could capitalise before Foran's sliced shot finally flew back to him.

Ravenhill was booked for bringing down Boulding on 20 minutes.

Stags cleared a sixth Darlington corner before the visitors grabbed the lead with a spot kick on the half-hour.

The referee adjudged Martin had held the towering Miller as they jumped for a cross and pointed to the spot.

There had been little signs of appeals from the visitors and it left the home crowd stunned.

Foran, on loan from Southend, stepped up and drilled it low into the bottom right hand corner just inches away from Muggleton's fingertips.

Stags launched forwards with a spell of pressure and Mayo lashed the ball inches wide of his own post to clear Brown's backheader.

Buxton also got in the way of a powerful free kick from team mate Bell as Mansfield looked for a quick way back.

Stags had a glimmer of a chance on 41 minutes when keeper Stockdale had to grab a Foster backpass that was threatening to go over his head.

That gave Mansfield a free kick 16 yards from goal which Hamshaw touched to Martin who drilled straight into the advancing wall.

Darlington broke well after Martin missed a tackle on Joachim and Wright's flick found Foran who saw Muggleton down well to smother his far post volley.

Foran's name went into the book after his challenge on Bell in the middle of the park in stoppage time.

Just before the whistle, Boulding and Brown both helped on a long Muggleton kick and Dawson did really well to battle past a defender and get into the box before blazing well over.

The home fans sang '1-0 to the referee' as the teams left the field at half time as Stags once again felt a sense of injustice.

He went even further down in home estimation when he awarded a goal kick for a certain Mansfield corner, bemusing both sides.

Hamshaw tried to send Boulding clear and had he gambled on Miller's slip he would have gone clear. But Darlington got away with it as Boulding slipped himself in trying to change direction and the moment was gone.

Mayo sent over another Quakers flag kick which sailed over everyone to Foran whose first time right foot shot was over Muggleton's crossbar.

Both sides made a change with McAliskey on for D'Laryea who had looked a little lost operating mainly on the left.

There was more controversy as Boulding tried to go clear on 62 and was brought down by Foster. Although the Stags man was 25 yards from goal, he still looked to be the last man able to stop Boulding. But he was shown only yellow and Bell hit a well struck free kick straight at Stockdale.

On 71 minutes Stags found themselves outnumbered in the box and Buxton did well to block Blundell's low finish. The ball came out to Valentine outside the box and his rasping low shot was saved by the diving Muggleton.

A minute later Mansfield had their best chance as the bal sat up nicely on the edge of the box for sub McAliskey who crashed a dipping half volley inches over the bar.

Martin did extremely well to marshal Foran wide on a Darlington breakaway but seconds later was booked for hacking down Joachim.

On 77 minutes Muggleton made another fine save as he turned over Keltie's 18 yard effort.

Brown won a free kick wide on the right which Hamshaw curled over and Boulding sent a firm header over the bar from 10 yards - another decent chance.

Stags pressed hard with the home fans behind them and won two more corners.

But Darlington's mean defence held firm for their eighth away win of the season and first win at Field Mill in eight visits.

And bottom club Wrexham pulled off an unlikely win over MK Dons to complete Mansfield's miserable day.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, D'Laryea (McAliskey 61), Bell, Hamshaw, Dawson, Brown, M. Boulding, Buxton, Martin (Holmes 83). Subs not used: White, Arnold, Wood.

DARLINGTON: Stockdale, Austin, Foster, Miller, Cummins ( Purdie ht), Joachim, Raven hill (Valentine 67), Blundell, Mayo, Wright (Keltie 61), Foran. Subs not used: Smith, Liversedge.

REFEREE: Michael Jones of Cheshire.

ATTENDANCE: 3,344.