SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood has labelled the very late decision to postpone the match at St Neots on Tuesday as ‘bizarre and surprising’.

Slough made the 70-mile trip to St Neots with the knowledge that the pitch at the Cozy Stadium had been inspected earlier in the day.

The Rebels, who were gunning for three points and a return to the Southern Premier Division play-off positions, were well into their warm-up routine when the match officials postponed the match at around 7.30pm.

Though he agrees that parts of the pitch were unfit, a frustrated Underwood has questioned just how thoroughly the pitch was first checked.

“It was bizarre to be honest,” he told the Observer. “Neil Baker and I got there around 6pm and walked onto the pitch and it was good. It’s generally good up there and even seemed a little soft in places.

“We were well into the warm-up when the referee asked to borrow one of us. When Neil came back he said the official was thinking of calling it off.

“It was bizarre and surprising but one of the goalmouths was like concrete. The area was dangerous and if you fell it could cause serious injury.

“The rest of the pitch had some give in it and the air temperature was about three degrees.

“To be honest, we agreed with the decision but the frustrating thing is that is wasn’t picked up earlier.

“The referee said he had been there to inspect the pitch earlier, but how can it go from being fine to like concrete when the temperature wasn’t dropping.

“I can only think it was not properly inspected. The players are bitterly disappointed because they got away from work early and were looking forward to the game, as were we.”

Underwood continued: “It’s a difficult one because we all want officials and clubs to give pitches every chance of being playable.

“Generally clubs are sympathetic towards the travel and we understand the pitch was looked at around 3pm, but we can only take their word for it.

“It’s a very difficult one because you can’t please everyone. It’s frustrating but we just have to get on with it.”

Slough are away to top of the table Leamington this Saturday and Kings Lynn Town on Tuesday.