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By Matthew Panting at Princes Park
Two goals in first-half stoppage time saw Dartford bag three Blue Square Bet Premier points during their live television debut on Friday night.
Skipper Elliot Bradbrook and man-of-the-match Ryan Hayes did the damage with two goals inside a minute to warm the 1,737 crowd on a chilly Princes Park evening.
It was no more than the home side deserved, as they played all the football against a team intent on using the long ball, particularly from throw-ins, at every opportunity.
When Dartford got the ball wide to Hayes and Lee Noble they looked a threat but it was their talisman Bradbrook who put them ahead.
On-loan Adam Birchall had earlier had the best chance of the half, firing across the face of goal, before Bradbrook was teed up at the edge of the box and his low drive was placed perfectly into the bottom corner.
Mansfield promptly lost possession to Hayes from the kick-off and the wideman took the ball to the edge of the area before curling home a delightful left-foot shot into the top corner.
Hayes nearly added a second after the break while Birchall was sent clean through but the Gillingham striker saw his shot hit the far post.
Mansfield offered little in the final third with the experienced Mark Arber successfully marshalling a Darts defence to a clean sheet ahead of the returning Marcus Bettinelli in goal.
The result saw Darts move up to third in the table as they took full advantage of playing nearly 24 hours earlier than their rivals.
Pictures from top: Ryan Hayes is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring, skipper Elliot Bradbrook celebrates his goal with Lee Noble and Hayes curls in from the edge of the penalty area. Pictures: Keith Gillard