AFC Darwen will go into tonight’s rearranged FA Vase second-round clash at home to Chadderton after winning a top award.

Nick Lloyd’s side have been named the North West Counties League First Division team of the month after enjoying an excellent November.

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They won three of their four matches that survived the wet weather with their 100 per cent winning record only coming to an end on Saturday when they went down 2-1 at higher-division Bootle in the Men United Cup.

It was the first defeat caretaker boss Lloyd had suffered since taking over.

Before that he led Darwen to a league victory over Atherton LR and shock successes over AFC Blackpool in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy and over Maine Road in the FA Vase.

The latter victory set up tonight’s twice-postponed tie with First Division rivals Chadderton.

If the tie is called off for a third time it will be played on Saturday.

The winners will be at home to north-east outfit Newcastle Benfield in the third round.

Darwen’s director of football, and former Newcastle United striker, Kevin Gallacher said: “It’s an even bigger match for us now because we will have a home draw in the next round if we get through.

“I spent two years up in Newcastle and, while I don’t know the Newcastle Benfield club well, all football clubs up there have decent players because they all eat, sleep and breathe football.

“But first things first we’ve got to get past Chadderton.”