Darlington must fit another fixture into their already congested schedule following their latest postponement on Saturday.

They were due to face Kettering Town at The Northern Echo Arena but freezing temperatures resulted in the fixture being called off – the seventh game Quakers have lost to the weather this season.

On Friday night temperatures dropped to -5C and, although the covers were used, with the half of the playing surface directly in front of the south stand receiving no sunlight on Saturday morning, the pitch was unplayable.

Match referee Dean Mohareb made his decision just after midday, by which time Kettering players, officials and many of their fans were already in Darlington, though such a scenario is nothing new to Quakers.

They were left stunned when their match at Cheltenham last February was postponed without warning less than two hours before kick-off, and the previous season matches at Lincoln and Bradford were also postponed close to kick-off.

On Saturday, manager Mark Cooper was keen for the game to go ahead, with the aim being to stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches, but instead Quakers held a training session at the Arena.

There had been injury doubts over Gary Smith, Nathan Modest and Liam Hatch, but all three had declared themselves fit with, aside from long-term absentees, only Greg Taylor unavailable.

The terms of his transfer from Kettering meant the defender could not be selected.

Cooper even had striker Chris Senior back in the squad following his return from two months on the sidelines with a knee injury, but the manager’s thoughts are now on tomorrow evening’s trip to third-placed Luton Town, one of several games postponed before Christmas.

Midfielder Aman Verma will play his final match for Darlington as his loan from Leicester City expires after tomorrow’s match at Kenilworth Road.

Quakers will have one new face as Cooper has signed John Campbell from Newcastle Benfield.

The striker has scored 25 goals this season, and he said: “I’m very happy, over the moon really.

“I can’t believe it’s happened, I didn’t think I was going to get another chance.

“Darlington are pushing to get back into the Football League and I just want to help them by scoring a lot of goals.

“I had a great time at Newcastle Benfield and I’d like to thank the club and (manager) Paul Baker, and wish them well in the future.”