18/02/2008 - Darlington 1 Mansfield 2
It wouldn't be a bad idea for Mansfield to rename Field Mill ahead of Chester's visit on Saturday.
Something along the lines of Sincil Bank, Adams Park or, indeed, the Darlington Arena ought to do nicely.
For while the Stags cannot clinch a win no matter what they try on home soil - losing their last six in front of their own supporters - their amazing purple patch of form continues unabated on the road.
This latest victory was their fifth on the bounce on opposition territory stretching back to the FA Cup success at Brighton in early January.
The fact it was achieved against a side second in the League Two table, who had previously lost only one home game all season, was impressive enough.
But what made the result particularly stand out was that for the first time in the whole of 2007-2008, Mansfield came back to win after conceding the first goal.
So often this season, the team has visibly drained of confidence once they have gone behind, lacking the belief to get back into matches.
Only once had the Stags netted even a point after trailing - and that was way back on the opening day of the season in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.
But there was always the possibility this match would be different because Darlington's opener was very much against the run of play.
Of course, the Stags' chances were greatly enhanced when former Notts County defender Alan White was sent off in first-half stoppage time for allegedly punching Jefferson Louis.
That moment, which reduced the Quakers to ten men for a full 45 minutes, was certainly a turning point in the game and gave the visitors licence to throw players forward in the second period.
But even with Darlington at full strength, Mansfield showed signs they were prepared for the fight.
Leading from the front, both literally and metaphorically, was striker Louis who had another superb game for the Stags and perhaps frustrated White into his moment of madness.
Right from the first whistle, the burly target man helped build attacks with his clever hold-up play and flicks for partner Michael Boulding.
Louis might have given Mansfield the lead when he miscued a volley from eight yards after Johnny Mullins headed back across goal following Lee Bell's free-kick. But that proved to be a rare low point for the former Thame United player, who responded brilliantly to the boos directed at him for going down after White's rush of blood.
First, he rose to powerfully head in a leveller from Matt Hamshaw's pinpoint right-wing centre via the right-hand post - his third goal in four games since joining the club.
Then he turned provider, flicking into the path of Stephen Dawson, who ran on, cut in from the right and unleashed a low left-footed drive from the edge of the box that beat Stockdale.
Louis could even afford the luxury of missing a sitter from close range to make the game safe for Mansfield in the closing stages but, by that point, Darlington's resolve had been broken.
However, this was no one-man show. There were other key contributions from those in amber, not least from a defence that contained a new face in the shape of Keith Briggs.
The Glossop-born player only signed for the Stags on Friday and has only trained with the team a couple of times.
Yet his introduction was fairly seamless as the re-jigged back four - shorn of the services of Dan Martin through family problems - left goalkeeper Carl Muggleton without a shot to save apart from the Quakers' first half breakthrough.
Briggs looked assured on the ball and was prepared to look for a pass rather than dump the ball aimlessly down the line.
He was also keen to join the attack alongside his good pal and former Stockport team-mate Hamshaw in what was a promising debut. On the other side of the field, Will Atkinson put in an improved display after a disappointing showing against Morecambe and was only denied his first goal for the club by Stockdale's late save.
In fact, it was only the efforts of the Darlington keeper that prevented the scoreline from being even more emphatic as he also thwarted Boulding when the hit man looked set to grab his 20th goal of the season with a close-range header.
As a result, Mansfield had to settle for a third consecutive 2-1 away win, although this was one much more comfortable than the last-gasp efforts at Lincoln and Wycombe.
After the game it quickly became apparent just how important it was for the Stags to bank another three points. With Notts County, Dagenham and Bury all registering victories, defeat would have once again seen a gap forming between them and their relegation rivals. As it is, they have not lost any ground.
Aside from the concession of another set-piece goal - which should have been cleared before Neil Austin slid home from close range - the only downside was an injury to midfielder Bell.
He tried to carry on after going down in the early stages but was eventually forced to admit defeat and be replaced by Jonathan D'Laryea.
The early prognosis is not good, with medial knee ligament damage likely to keep Bell out of action for a while.
Even so, the mood in the Mansfield camp remains upbeat and the players are full of optimism they can clinch consecutive away win number six at Stockport tomorrow. But beyond that comes two crucial games against relegation rivals Chester and Bury - both at home - which could be pivotal in deciding the club's fate this season.
Normally, playing at Field Mill would be seen as an advantage, but the way things are right now, it is proving to be more of a handicap than a help.
Logic suggests it is only a matter of time until an upturn in home form is forthcoming and, conversely, that their terrific away run comes to an end.
But as all Mansfield followers know only too well in a roller-coaster of a season, things never pan out quite as expected.