When Chichester's David Phillips arrived at 10.45 am and peeled back the Saltergate end covers, he found a rock hard, icebound surface in the shadow of the Kop's roof. That area was significantly worse than the small patch of pitch that led to the postponement of the Rotherham game five days earlier.

Other areas of the pitch were reasonable if not perfect but the referee suggested that some work may well make the goal area playable. After half an hour of intense inspection, he gave the club 45 more minutes to see what could be achieved. 

Cue the removal of covers, bucket loads of hot water, the odd bit of salt and the manager frantically forking the worst bits of the park.

Just after noon, the officials gave the thumbs up, though a heavy snow shower at 2 o'clock threatened the good work but in the end the pragmatic approach of Mr Phillips paid off and the game started on time.

Mr  Phillips said after the game, he was satisfied with his decision to play;

"The pitch played very well, credit to the players who had no complaints. Everybody played with the right spirit and it was proved to be the right decision to play as far as the pitch was concerned.

"The ball moved freely, players managed to keep their feet and as it showed towards the end, there was the ability to step the game up.

"My first consideration is the safety of people coming into the ground, the next consideration when everyone's happy with that is the safety of the players on the pitch and can you get a game that's something for the fans to be happy about as opposed to a farce."