DROYLSDEN keeper Craig "Killer" Mawson is warning fans to "expect the unexpected" in tonight's big FA Cup second round replay against Chesterfield at the Butcher's Arms.

After the controversies surrounding the teams' two previous meetings - one abandoned due to fog and the other featuring Steve Halford's infamous "ghost goal" - Bloods boss Dave Pace wants nothing more than a run-of-the-mill victory for his plucky part-timers to secure an historic third round trip to Ipswich.

But 29-year-old Mawson, who was at the centre of yet another Droylsden drama during their goalless first round draw at Darlington, suspects the next chapter in the Blue Square North club's gripping Cup adventure story will be no less of a cliffhanger.

Mawson was carried off at Darlo after colliding with a post and, with his teenage understudy Kyle Clancy taking his place, was then forced by injury to sit out the replay, which was won by Matthew Tipton's solitary strike. But former Oldham, Lincoln and Morecambe goalie Mawson, who joined the Bloods from FC Halifax Town in August, returned to face Chesterfield.

And it was his super last-gasp save from Jamie Ward which ensured Pace's men left Saltergate with their Cup dreams still very much alive.

Now Mawson believes Droylsden can clinch a third round place - but warns supporters that another evening of high drama almost certainly awaits.

He said: "We've had just about everything in the Cup this season, so the only thing people should be surprised by tonight is if there are no surprises. Every year, there's a non-League club which captures the public imagination in the Cup. Last season it was Havant and Waterlooville.

"This time, why can't it be us?

"We're not going to disrespect Chesterfield by saying it's now a foregone conclusion that we'll beat them, just because we're at home.

Luck

"But confidence couldn't be higher in our dressing-room and there's a real belief here that, with that bit of luck every team needs in the Cup, we're more than capable of adding Chesterfield's scalp to that of Darlington."

Mawson says he's taking his inspiration from Burnley's Carling Cup heroics because, when he's not lining up for Droylsden, he can be found working as the Clarets' youth team goalkeeping coach.

He has watched Burnley march into the Carling Cup semi-finals with stunning victories over Fulham, Arsenal and Chelsea.

And, like all fans of the Lancashire club, he's now dreaming they can see off Spurs to line up a possible Wembley date with Manchester United or Derby.

Mawson added: "After what Burnley have achieved in the Carling Cup, I feel a bit obliged to keep my end of the bargain at Droylsden.

"There's a winning mentality and a feel-good factor up at Turf Moor these days - and I like to take that with me into the Droylsden dressing-room."

The Bloods are expecting a crowd of anything up to 3,000 for tonight's tie - the ninth in Droylsden's epic Cup run, which began with qualifying round triumphs over fellow non-Leaguers Bradford Park Avenue, Gateshead and Belper.

Victory over Chesterfield would not only take Droylsden into the third round for the first time in their 116-year history but also see them receive a whopping £30,000 cheque to add to the £44,500 in Cup prize money they have already amassed.