Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor reacts to last minute postponement at FC Halifax Town after pitch inspection was cancelled

An initially scheduled pitch inspection at The Shay for 1pm was called off and deemed unnecessary at 9:30am on Tuesday morning as the surface was clearly playable.

But with dropping temperatures in West Yorkshire, the match officials quickly made the call to postpone the match following their pre-game inspection of the surface. The match will now have to be rearranged for a later date with both Pools and Halifax having next Tuesday free.

Pools boss Dave Challinor was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.

“The pitch is not playable,” he said afterwards. “We came here earlier in the day and had a look at the pitch and the covers were on it but it was playable.

"We turned up after our pre-match expecting the pitch to still be playable but we’ve came out and had a look and it’s a completely different pitch to how it was just over two hours ago because the temperatures dropped.

“It’s made the top end crusty if you like but at the other end it’s rock solid and dangerous so it’s not a difficult decision, we couldn’t play on it.

Maybe 25 years ago you might have but it’s dangerous and the game can’t happen.

“It’s frustrating for everybody, you prepare for a game and do all the hard work and look forward to playing. Unfortunately we weren’t able to do that and with the way things are especially this time of year.”

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