The visitors were reduced to 10 men just before half-time and nicked a goal early in the second half, which they defended despite the woodwork being hit five times in the game.
Although the first half failed to produce a goal, there was no shortage of action or incident.
The Quakers hit the woodwork on two occasions. On four minutes Guy Bates found himself in space in the penalty area, and his effort struck the outside of the post.
Then three minutes before the break Simon Johnson side-footed a shot from 12 yards against the bar.
The main talking points though came in the other half of the field as Matt Bloomfield's ranging pass was caught superbly on the volley by Tommy Mooney, only for visiting keeper Sam Russell to pull off a miraculous save.
With two minutes remaining of the first period, the visitors were down to 10 men. Skipper Matt Clarke pulled back Ian Stonebridge and didn't wait around to see referee Whitestone brandish the red card.
Mooney's clipped free-kick from just outside the area struck the post.
Despite being down to 10 men, Darlington went ahead on 50 minutes.
David Duke picked up the ball 20 yards out and rifled it past the despairing dive of Frank Talia.
The Chairboys missed a golden chance on 70 minutes. A cross from the right by Russell Martin eluded Russell, but Mooney's downward header bounced over the bar.
Incredibly the woodwork was hit for the fourth time with six minutes remaining. Stonebridge smashed a 25-yard blockbuster against the Darlington post.
Two minutes later Mooney hit the post again with a header which was eventually cleared in an incredible goalmouth scramble.