Badshot Lea co-manager Gavin Smith was left frustrated after his side’s Combined Counties Premier Division South home game against Alton was called off by the match referee less than an hour before kick-off.

Rain on Monday night and Tuesday had left the match in doubt, but the Baggies’ Westfield Lane surface passed a pitch inspection at 4pm and the game appeared to be going ahead.

However, the match referee inspected the surface shortly before 7pm and called the game off.

Smith was not impressed with the late decision to postpone the eagerly-anticipated fixture.

“This pitch is not even that bad – I can’t get my head around it,” he said.

“After the pitch we played on on Saturday (against Guildford City) I can’t believe the game is off.

“The referee was concerned that the pitch was not playable in one of the corners. He was concerned that if the game started we wouldn’t be able to complete the game.

“It’s been a waste of everyone’s time – next time it makes sense to just call the game off ourselves.”

The Baggies were keen to play as no-one in the Premier South has played so few matches. Their promotion rivals have racked up far more games – leaders Abbey Rangers have played 21 matches to the Baggies’ 16.