Hendon suffered their fourth straight Saturday washout when the referee ruled the LOOT Stadium pitch unplayable just 80 minutes before kick-off.

The heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday put paid to any chance of the Ryman League Premier Division game against St Albans City going ahead.

But after two better days of weather, Saints staff were more confident.

"We will go ahead, provided there is no heavy rain before 3.00 pm," said the referee early on matchday.

Club secretary Graham Etchell explained what happened next.

"The referee had a look at the pitch

wearing Wellington boots and said he was happy with most of the pitch, except for the problem area on the far side, but was going to try running in his football boots.

"While he was in the dressing room changing boots, the rain started and although it did not last particularly long, it was very heavy and when he reappeared, there was some water standing.

"He had no alternative but to call the game off."

Hendon manager Frank Murphy and his St Albans counterpart Gary Calder had agreed tentatively to play a friendly at St Albans' Clarence Park ground if the game was postponed.

The two teams were just preparing to go up the A1 when they heard the pitch there was also badly affected by rain, so the friendly was called off.

With only 17 games played in mid-February, Hendon's fixture congestion is already reaching crisis level.

The Greens face six matches in the last 14 days of February, nine games in each of March and April, plus two in the five days

of May before the season ends.

This excludes the rearranged St Albans game.

Hendon have now had seven consecutive Ryman League games postponed for various reasons:

Amazingly, they have remained in 13th place since December 9, during which time the Greens have played just four Ryman League Premier Divison fixtures, winning one, drawing one and losing two.

On Saturday, Hendon hope to play their first Ryman League Premier Division for six weeks with a trip to Slough Town, kick-off 3pm.

On Tuesday (7.45pm), the Greens are away to Hampton & Richmond Borough, who sit proudly in fourth spot in the league.

Completing the hectic schedule, they entertain Chesham United in the Ryman League Cup at LOOT Stadium on Thursday.