Workington’s NPL West game at Bootle was called off 20 minutes after the Reds team left the ground.
Secretary Alec Graham took a phone call as he drove to meet the team bus at Bassenthwaite and was able to turn it back.
Apparently, Bootle officials had just discovered a tear in the artificial surface while they were putting up the nets. It would have made the pitch unsafe to play on.
They had played at home on Saturday when they beat 1874 Northwich to stay in playoff contention. The Workington management team were shocked and disappointed to learn of the late postponement.
Apart from Saturday’s friendly at Lancaster, the Reds have only played two games in five weeks. They face another midweek rearrangement for the game with Bootle which was originally called off last month because of a waterlogged pitch.
Reds now face a tough test on Saturday when they travel to third-placed Leek Town who are level on points with the Reds having played two more games.
Three teams – Reds, Leek and Marine – are all level on 65 points three points behind Warrington Rylands.
