Stanley almost grabbed an equaliser in the dying seconds of the game and, on the balance of play, they probably deserved something from the game.
As it is the Lancashire side continue to look over their shoulders at the wrong end of the League. But on this performance they should be able to haul themselves clear of trouble.
Indeed they could have been two goals up in the opening 15 minutes of the game, if only their finishing had been better.
With only two minutes on the clock a half cleared corner from Alan Rogers fell to Tony Grant on the edge of the area who fired over the crossbar. And, in the 11th minute, Shaun Whalley wasted a glorious opportunity when, in space inside the area, he connected with a through ball from Romuald Boco and proceeded to side-foot the ball into the grateful arms of Darlington keeper Lee Jones.
The visitors were made to pay in the 20th minute when Tommy Wright volleyed in a Gregg Blundell cross from 15 yards out and then, eight minutes later, Martin Smith crossed from the left and a near post header from Blundell put the hosts very much in the driving seat.
In the 32nd minute defender David Wheater headed on to the crossbar and, at that stage, it seemed to be a case of how many the home side would get.
But in the second half Stanley captain Paul Mullin turned an Andy Todd cross past Jones from close range and suddenly the home side didn't look so comfortable.
In the 52nd minute a long-range shot from Rogers was inches wide, and then six minutes later, Whalley broke away and ran half the length of the pitch before firing wide with only Jones to beat.
Nine minutes from time Wheater cleared off his goal-line when Whalley threatened an equaliser and then, with only seconds left on the clock, Phil Edwards glanced a header across the face of goal.