Walsall Off As Big Freeze Bites

Last updated : 03 January 2009 By Thetashkentterror
Despite a pitch inspection having been scheduled for 1pm the match was postponed shortly before midday by referee Craig Pawson. The Sheffield-official, having taken an earlier look at the playing surface at 11am, deciding that an area around the centre-circle at Brunton Park was not suitable for play.

The Carlisle groundstaff, after bringing in additional wadding from Cowens Ltd, in Dalston, not able to get the game on following plummeting temperatures across Britain all week. United's match just one of many that fell foul of the recent wintry weather this afternoon, today's blank Saturday being followed by a trip to Leeds next week, with no date having yet been set for the rearrangement of the Walsall fixture.

United manager Greg Abbott commenting to BBC Radio Cumbria on the postponement of the League One game :

" We've had the pitch covered and we left it as late as we could to try to give the pitch every chance. Last night was a little bit warmer but the strength of the frosts over the earlier part of the week meant that we were up against it. They have covered it though, they have bought some insular stuff to put on top of the covers as well but it has been cold as everybody would appreciate, so there was not much that we could do to be honest.

" It is the middle part of the pitch where the grass is a little bit finer than on the wide areas. It is right down the middle, a 20-yard width and it is very firm. If anybody bounced on their head and got an injury then the referee is liable. So they err on the caution of safety these days, so we have to just live with that. "