Darlington put aside worries about their wages and almost came away from promotion-chasing Wrexham with a victory last night.

The Northern Echo understands that at least four players have unexpectedly not been paid their salaries which were due this week.

It is thought that of those that have not received their wage, two are on loan to other clubs, another two were involved last night while some have only been paid a percentage of their salary.

It comes just as Darlington were putting together a decent run of form, but they were able to put aside the off-field turmoil by putting in a determined showing at the Racecourse Ground.

Two late goals put a sudden end to their resurgence, but they left Wales feeling hugely aggrieved after controversial refereeing decisions.

Approaching the final ten minutes, they were were comfortable at 1-0 up thanks to a first-half penalty from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

But in the 78th minute Curtis Obeng using an arm to keep the ball in play before delivering a cross from which Adrian Cieslewicz levelled.

The game was broadcast live on Premier Sports and viewers clearly saw a handball from Obeng that referee Amy Fearn and her assistants failed to see and three minutes later it was 2-1.

This time Kris Taylor was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul and from the resulting free-kick Jake Speight scored, leaving Darlington suffering defeat having minutes earlier appeared to be on the verge of a fourth successive win.

Caretaker manager Craig Liddle fumed: "At half-time I said to the boys, 'keep doing what you're doing', but we can't be held responsible for refereeing decisions like that.

"I didn't see the handball myself, it was too far from me, and I haven't seen the TV replay, but I don't need to because the lads are furious and they are adamant it was handball.

"From the way they all reacted you knew something was up, players don't react all together like that unless there has been an injustice."

The goals left Darlington frustrated after putting in a fine showing against a team that had not lost in any of their previous 12 games in all competitions.

They almost got off to the perfect start as Mark Creighton placed a header narrowly wide inside the first 60 seconds and went on to enjoy superior possession in a first 45 minutes during which Darlington proved difficult to breakdown.

That was Liddle's game-plan and it worked as Wrexham did little to seriously test Quakers keeper Sam Russell.

He proved equal to the few efforts on target that the Red Dragons managed, such as easily gathering Danny Wright's shot after the forward played a one-two with Obeng.

After showcasing his step-over routine in front of Adam Rundle - clearly aware that the game was being broadcast on TV - he delivered a pass that Creighton volleyed over while a fierce Johnny Hunt drive after a short free-kick was dealt with by Russell.

Although Wrexham saw more of the ball, Liddle's side caused problems of their own with Ryan Bowman working tirelessly up front.

He was in for the suspended Liam Hatch and almost rounded keeper Joslain Mayebi who later spilled a powerful 25-yard effort from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

A chance was wasted when John McReady made piercing run through midfield and laid the ball off to Rundle, but his shot was prodded wide, but then came the penalty.

Bowmam broke into the area and drew Creighton's foul, resulting in penalty number four of the season for Bridge-Wilkinson.

The goal gave Darlington a lead to defend, one which should have been doubled in the second half.

A swift counter involving McReady and Bowman led to Jamie Chandler scampering down the wing, but there was nobody in the box to meet his centre.

The came came a poor miss from Bowman. Dale Hopson flicked-on Paul Arnison's cross, but the striker missed the ball completely when unmarked.

He suffered another blow when he had to limp off with suspected ankle ligament damage, which could keep him out for three-four weeks.

Wrexham then stepped it up. Russell had to leap full-length to his left to push away Cieslewicz's shot from 20 yards and he then blocked from Danny Wright.

But Quakers were not unduly troubled and looked on course for a fine win. Then came Obeng's handball and suddenly Liddle's team found themselves on the wrong end of a harsh defeat.