WESTON-SUPER-MARE’S FA Trophy First Round match with Wealdstone has been postponed for a fourth time, due to a waterlogged pitch.

The game has already been rearranged numerous times after persistent rain before Christmas, but a rain-soaked Woodspring Stadium means the Seagulls will have to wait a little longer before continuing their campaign, which began with a 4-0 win over Hitchin Town in the Third Qualifying Round.

A club spokesman said: “An inspection this morning revealed that the overnight rain has scuppered all the groundsman’s efforts to get this pitch in a playable condition.

“Wealdstone FC and The FA have been most understanding of our situation. Our groundsman Bob said, ‘we looked at the forecasts last Saturday and there was a window of opportunity Tuesday and Wednesday - but then heavy rain came on Tuesday afternoon and overnight. I just couldn’t get on the pitch. Hopefully the next few days will give us much needed wind and sun’.”

Weston manager Ryan Northmore said the situation was ‘not ideal’ ahead of the the Seagulls’ league clash with Chelmsford on Saturday. The Seagulls had been in great form before the rain-affected festive period, unbeaten in six matches.

Northmore said: “Potentially playing four games in a week is not ideal. When you’re in good form the last thing we want is to have a disruption to our schedule, but the situation is what it is and we have just got to get on with it.

“We want the games to keep rolling, and the fixture backlog isn’t helpful, but it can’t be helped. We haven’t played significantly fewer games than the other sides in the league, so there are no excuses for Saturday.”

The club have agreed with The FA and Wealdstone that the match be scheduled for January 11, kicking off at 7.45pm. Any replay would be at Wealdstone on January 13. The winners of the tie will travel to Grimsby Town on January 16.