Dave Challinor reacts as Hartlepool United have second match postponed in a week with Dover Athletic pitch declared waterlogged

It’s Pools’ second match to be postponed this week after their Tuesday night fixture at Halifax Town was called off due to heavy snow in West Yorkshire.

Dave Challinor’s side were two hours into a 330-mile journey down to Dover on Friday morning before they got the news that Saturday’s match at the Crabble Athletic Ground was cancelled.

On the postponement, Pools boss Dave Challinor told the club website: “It’s always disappointing when games are postponed. It’s obviously even more difficult when the game is between two teams at opposite ends of the country as there’s a fair amount of guess work going into the decision.

“It affects our preparations in terms of today but we’ll do some work tomorrow and look forward to Solihull on Tuesday.”

Prior to the match, Challinor had expressed concerns about Dover’s pitch as he said: “It’s a really difficult pitch down at Dover.

"We’re at that stage in the season where the pitches are going to be difficult, you look at Halifax’s pitch, looking at Dover’s pitch and potentially what our pitch could be like.

"We’re in the winter months where you have to be adaptable and play the conditions more than what you’d like.”

It’s the fifth time Pools have had a match postponed due to bad weather this season. Three times at Halifax and once at Eastleigh midway through the game.

In contrast, they have had just two matches postponed as a result of opposition players testing positive for coronavirus at Barnet and Eastleigh.

Dover have played fewer matches than any side in the National League this season with several matches being postponed due to Covid. The Whites have played just 15 games so far and have four games in hand on Pools.

The Kent outfit sit second bottom of the National League table with 10 points having played just three league games between October 31 and January 12.

A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course as Pools’ attentions switch to Tuesday night’s match against Solihull Moors at Victoria Park (6pm kick-off).

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