Darlington remain top of the table, despite their match on Saturday becoming their first of the season to fall victim to the weather.

Following rain in the preceding 24 hours, Heritage Park was considered to be waterlogged after Saturday’s morning pitch inspection ahead of the game with Lancaster City.

The postponement frustrated Darlington and it is unlikely to be the last home fixture that they lose to the weather this season.

Seven days earlier their match at Heritage Park against Clitheroe only got the thumbs up following an inspection, but groundstaff still had to deal with standing water on the playing surface immediately before kick-off.

And a fortnight ago landlords Bishop Auckland lost a game at home to Newcastle Benfield due to the weather.

In the summer Bishop spent money on improving the surface, which is now in the best condition it has been since Quakers began using Heritage Park as a temporary base in 2012, but drainage remains an issue.

Bishop plan to work on the drainage system at the end of the season.

No date has yet been set for rearranged game and while Quakers were out of action most of their promotion rivals picked up three points.

Salford are now joint top, though Darlington have a game in hand, as they beat Burscough 1-0, while Droylsden, Farsley and Bamber Bridge also won.

Northwich Victoria missed a chance to leapfrog Quakers as they suffered a surprise defeat at mid-table Harrogate RA.

New Mills are Martin Gray’s side's next opposition and on Saturday the Derbyshire side, 21st in the table, conceded twice in injury time to lose 2-1 at Bamber Bridge.

Darlington travel to New Mills this weekend and then play at Bamber Bridge the following weekend, with their next Heritage Park game not being until Saturday, December 20 against Radcliffe Borough.

The one silver lining for Gray on Saturday was that Tom Portas’ four cautions have now been wiped out – had he collected a fifth before the end of November then he would have incurred a one-match ban.

The suspensions of Gary Brown, Chris Hunter and Liam Hatch will now start at New Mills.