Darlington enjoyed a second win of the season thanks to Jack Maskell’s first goal for the club.
Maskell's powerful first-half header gave Quakers the points, despite him missing a late penalty, against a Spennymoor Town side who have now lost all three away games this season.
But there was uproar in the Moors ranks, who felt they had strong claims for two penalties including one in added time when Isaac Fletcher was booked for simulation.
Moors assistant manager Ian Clark, the former Darlington player, was shown a red card after the final whistle for his protests to referee Robert Claussen, while manager Graeme Lee described the official’s decisions as “embarrassing”.
Again without Kallum Griffiths, Tom Platt, Joe Leesley and Cedric Main, this is a notable win for Darlington, and boss Steve Watson reflected: “The result was fantastic and the way we defended the box was very good, but the way we kept the ball was nowhere good enough and because of that, for long spells, we were defending.
“The endeavour and the effort was great and that’s three clean sheets in a row.”
On the referee’s key decisions, Watson added: “I don’t think any of them were penalties, I know Graeme Lee will see it differently. I don’t think we should’ve had a penalty and I don’t think either of their shouts were penalties, but that’s football, it’s a game of opinions.”
Spennymoor bossed the opening stages with Quakers struggling to keep the ball or escape from their own half, but from a counter-attack Darlington forced a corner from which they took the lead against the run of play.
Matty Cornish swung the ball over and, following a training ground routine, Maskell had the space required to run unchallenged and direct a bullet header home.
And it was almost 2-0 after another corner, this time Will Hatfield’s low drive was saved by debutant Henry Popple, who started as Brad James was injured.
Corey McKeown wasted a glorious chance to equalise when Fletcher found him with a low left-wing cross, but caught the ball under his feet and the chance was gone.
Spennymoor’s first penalty appeal came just before the break, when Rob Ramshaw got to the ball before Darlington goalkeeper Peter Jameson, the pair collided and referee Claussen played on.
Spennymoor came close to scoring twice more before the break, first when Callum Ross’ drive across goal was parried by Jameson, and then Olly Dyson shanked an effort wide from a Ross knock-down.
For lengthy spells Spennymoor kept the ball, and after one period of passing in midfield Dan Rowe was inches away from a long-range goal. The former Whitby defender stepped into midfield and unleashed a 25-yard strike that whistled just over Jameson’s bar.
Popple parried a dipping Hatfield volley after Dan Myers headed a cross away, and the 20-year-old Spennymoor goalkeeper then made a name for himself by saving Maskell’s penalty.
It was given when Hatfield was brought down on the edge of the area, and Maskell confidently grabbed the ball but his effort was too close to the Spennymoor goalkeeper.
A goal would have settled Quakers nerves at this stage, so Popple’s save made for tense closing stages as Darlington defended their one-goal lead.
Moors were furious when Fletcher dribbled into the area, evaded one challenge and went down under the second, by Toby Lees, but he was booked for diving.
At full-time, angry Spennymoor players headed straight to the officials, and while Lee shepherded them away Clark was shown a red card. “We’ve had two clear cut penalties and he gave them one that wasn’t even inside the box. These moments change games,” said Lee afterwards.
“We weren’t at our best but I felt we were on the front foot and dominated the game in areas, we just couldn’t break them down.
“The decision making from the referee was embarrassing.”
Attendance: 1,879 (195 Spennymoor supporters)
Darlington (4-2-3-1): Jameson; Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow; Hatfield, Flint; Salkeld, Cornish (Payne 76), Nelson (Rivers 61); Maskell. Subs not used: McGrath, Andoh, Taylor
Spennymoor Town (4-2-3-1): Popple; Dyson, Rowe, Bartley, Staunton (Myers 46); Ross, Howard (Siziba 58); McKeown (Mondal 73), Ramshaw (Harris 73), Fletcher; Taylor. Subs not used: Ledger
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