With players being forced to play out of position in a patched-up side picked from the remaining fit members of the squad, Darlington's trip to promotion-chasing Mansfield was always going to be tough - and so it proved.

Although Quakers displayed plenty of drive and will to win at Field Mill, that failed to make up for the shortfall in class which Mansfield held, and striker David Kelly epitomised that gulf as he spent Saturday afternoon displaying why he has spent the majority of his career in the top two divisions.

The veteran was excellent as he bagged a brace and earned his side a penalty, although the spot-kick award was somewhat dubious as Kelly fell theatrically.

Regardless of Kelly's dubious penalty win, Mansfield deserved their three points, but, with the scores at 2-0, it could have all been so different had referee Mike Ryan sent-off the Stags keeper after 20 minutes when he gave Darlington a penalty.

Tommy Taylor again lamented slack defending which cost Quakers dear. He said: "One thing about them is that they do go to the final whistle and they do give it 100 per cent, but you kill yourself if you give away stupid goals. You can take points or you can win games if you do the right things.

"But if you give stupid goals away, how can the better players go on to win the game for you?

"If you make defensive mistakes, you are going to be punished."

Taylor believes Mansfield's first and third goals were gifted and although the second came via a penalty, prior to the spot-kick Quakers botched their offside tactic.

He said: "Some of the decision making was poor. We work on two banks of four in training, but some players' minds wandered and they forget about their positioning.

"The crowd might have a go and say sort it out, but what's out on the field is all I've got. And I said that to the team, I told them they're the best team I've got at the moment but they've got to show a bit more character when they're defending."

The game started in the worst possible fashion for Darlington as they conceded a goal after just 80 seconds, but the strike, Kelly's first of the afternoon, was slightly unlucky on Quakers' part.

Adam Reed, starting only his third game of the season, did well to block Wayne Corden's shot, but the rebound fell to Kelly who was left with the simple task of tapping into the net from eight yards.

Nineteen minutes later the Stags took up a commanding position as they deservedly doubled their advantage through Corden's spot-kick, but the goal could so easily have been avoided.

Mansfield easily escaped Quakers' offside trap which allowed Martin Pemberton to race-away down the right before his shot was saved by Finch, but under the challenge of Reed, Kelly went to ground dramatically.

But Quakers wasted no time in hitting back as they won a penalty of their own 60 seconds later, but had referee Mr Ryan implemented the laws of the game, the Stags would've been down to ten men.

Mansfield keeper Kevin Pilkington was faced with Danny Mellanby running towards him and with the striker about to dribble around the onrushing keeper, Pilkington brought the former Bishop striker to the ground. Result: Penalty, but no sending-off, or even a booking.

Mr Ryan explained: "The player was running away from goal and there was a defender covering."

The fact Mellanby was not running away from goal and there wasn't a defender covering somewhat undermines the referee's statement.

Despite the controversy, Ian Clark stepped up to convert the penalty to notch his fifth of the season.

Spurred by the goal, and perhaps motivated by the leniency shown towards Mansfield, Darlington went looking for an equaliser, and it should of arrived just before the half-hour mark but Mellanby kicked straight at the keeper from six yards.

And Quakers paid for his miss because the hosts then scored a third through Chris Greenace as the Stags played a ball into space behind the Darlington defence for Greenacre to chase and the striker sped through Quakers' static defence and lifted the ball over Finch.

The second half was a tamer affair, because Darlington raised their game and caused some problems of their own, but more influential was that Mansfield were content to coast through the game and protect their advantage.

But Quakers set-up a potential grandstand finish when super-sub Mark Sheeran rose from the bench to score his, seemingly, inevitable goal with 16 minutes to play after converting an excellent Clark through-ball.

The goal gave Darlington hope however, as is the case with all quality sides, Mansfield were able to raise their game and just two minutes later they quashed Darlington's chances of salvaging an unlikely point when Kelly nodded in a left-wing cross following a cleared corner.

There were protests of offside, nonetheless, Darlington couldn't argue with the result because despite the 100 per cent commitment, the Stags created more, and better chances throughout.

Anything less than 100 per cent determination on Tuesday night at home to Hartlepool will not be accepted by any Darlington supporter.

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