Referee Gary Sutton ruled that Jonathan Hutchinson and brought down Wrexham's Robbie Foy inside the penalty area and pointed to the spot. He was then surrounded by a posse of Darlington players protesting at his decision. He stuck to his guns but had to book several players for arguing with his decision. Jonathan Walters then stepped up to beat goalkeeper Sam Russell.
The row continued after the game and Hutchinson was shown the red card for something he said to the ref.
Weakened by injuries and illness Wrexham had a makeshift team and struggled to find their form. Walters had an early header against the post and later when he put Foy through and shot went into the side netting.
A good cross from Andy Holt was met by Lee McEvilly with a glancing header that flew wide and then Holt fired a shot that struck Shelton Martis in a crowded goal mouth.
Jonjo Dickman missed an early chance when he failed to connect with a good cross with Ryan Valentine. From another pinpoint Valentine cross. Matthew Clarke's downward header was deflected for a corner.
Darlington started strong in the second half when former Wrexham player Neil Wainwright should have scored but his shot near the line hit Holt and bounced up for goalkeeper Michael Ingham to save.
Lee McEvilly saw his free kick hurling past the post and when Darren Ferguson aimed a free-kick into the box. It was cleared out to Alex Smith who fired too high from 15 yards. From another Ferguson free-kick, Danny Williams headed straight into the arms into Sam Russell. Russell turned a shot from McEvilly onto the post and later Holt headed over the cross bar from a Ferguson corner.