HEAVY overnight rain and an early decision by the match referee saw Ludlow Town's scheduled Midland Alliance match against Barwell postponed.

The new Coors Stadium pitch was heavily waterlogged when the referee inspected the ground in the early morning. With more heavy rain forecast, and considering the distance that the visitors had to travel, he thought it prudent to postpone the game.

Town manager Les Bristow was naturally disappointed and said: "We would like to have played but I understood the referee's reasoning in postponing the match.

"The surface of the new ground was very greasy and this could well have posed problems with sliding tackles and possible injuries and, of course, it would have been silly to take the top off the young turf.

On the positive side it has given my players a mid-season break and the opportunity for those carrying niggling injuries a chance to recover."