Bradford Park Avenue will make a second attempt to stage their FA Trophy first-round tie tomorrow night as the Kidderminster Harriers saga rolls on.
The clubs were denied a fourth meeting in just over a year by a deep overnight frost on Friday night which left the playing surface at Horsfall Stadium unsafe in the eyes of the match referee.
The club arranged for a local referee to inspect the pitch at 8am and he felt that with clear sky the sun would thaw out the pitch. However, when the match officials arrived at the ground early in the afternoon they found areas that were still hard.
They suggested a final inspection an hour before kick-off but, with no improvement 15 minutes before that deadline, they made the decision to postpone it with the safety of the players in mind.
Director Kevin Hainsworth said: “It was a pity but, as we all know, the final decision is always the match referee’s to make.
“We had a local ref in at eight o'clock in the morning because Kidderminster were setting off at half past. If at that time there had been any chance of the match being called off then it would have saved them travelling.
“No one expected it to be so bad because the forecast was that the temperature would drop to just below zero and only for a short time. It was obviously much colder but the frustrating thing is that it was just one problem area.
“The touchline in front of the dressing rooms was still solid but the rest of the pitch was nice and soft. The players trained on it after the match had been called off.
“The clubs agreed there and then that they would try again on Monday but if the weather doesn’t improve it could still be under threat, it's just one of those really frustrating situations.”
The players from both clubs were looking forward to another game between the sides after three close encounters last season.
The extra 48 hours will have helped Dan Clayton, who is hoping to make his comeback from injury.
The only other player Bradford boss John Deacey had out, apart from his four long-term casualties, is recent signing Fernando Moke, who is cup-tied.
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